Mar 19, 2012
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The Transportation Security Administration said a viral video that shows a three-year-old child in a wheelchair subjected to a thorough examination occurred almost two years ago — prior to the agency’s modified screening measures for passengers under the age of 12.
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The incident occurred in the spring of 2010 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. It was filmed by Matt Dubiel, the child’s father. He told Fox News that his family was on their way to Disney World when they were stopped at a security checkpoint. He posted on YouTube over the weekend and has since gone viral.
“I didn’t think I had the footage,” Dubiel told Fox News. “They didn’t want me to record it with our regular camera. They made me put the cameras away but they allowed me to maintain with my iPhone.”
Dubiel said he decided to post the video after he rediscovered the footage over the weekend.
“I watched the video with my 10-year-old and my heart starting beating real fast, I started getting angry – a rash of emotions and then I had to explain to my 10-year-old what was happening and why I allowed it to happen.”
A TSA spokesman released a statement saying incident occurred prior to their modified screening procedures for passengers under the age of 12. The alternative screening measures include allowing children to leave their shoes on, permitting multiple passes through the walk through metal detetor, greater use of explosives trace detection, as well as multiple attempts to capture a clear image during advanced imaging technology screening.
The new measures have ”greatly reduced, though not eliminated, pat-downs of children,” TSA said.
“While recognizing that terrorists are willing to manipulate societal norms to evade detection, our officers continue to work with parents to ensure a respectful screening process for the entire family at the checkpoint,” TSA said in a prepared statement.
The video footage shows the little boy sitting in a wheelchair with a cast on his leg. Dubiel said he was not allowed to touch or come near his son during the search. However, he did videotape most of the search.
“My little boy wanted me to come over to hold his hand and give him a hug,” Dubiel wrote in commentary embedded in the video. “He was trembling with fear.”
“Instead, we had to pretend this was ‘ok’ so he didn’t panic,” he wrote.
He can be heard reassuring his son through the ordeal – which lasted for more than three minutes. At one point, the agent swabbed the wheelchair, the child’s cast, the child’s hands and even made the boy lift up his shirt.
“I was livid at this point,” the father wrote. “I’m asking myself, ‘Why the (explicative deleted) isn’t someone with a brain coming over to waive him through?’ Someone in a position of authority needs to make the obvious decision this child is not a threat – right? You are swabbing a three-year-olds hands for explosives? Seriously? Seriously?”
Dubiel, who is the general manager of radio station WJJG in Illinois, said reaction has been mixed.
“Some people have said I’m a bad parent for allowing that to happen to my child,” he said. “Most people focus on my son and the experience that he was clearly going through. He was physically trembling.”
Dubiel said he did not file a formal complaint with the TSA.
Watch the video below:
FOX News Talk
This is clear example that the radical Obama regime having control over anything is extremely disturbing.
they are preparing your children to not scream out when a stranger touches them. They have forced parents to console a child while this is happening by making statements like, "it's ok honey they will not hurt you" A parent should prepare the child beforehand by telling the child to scream if a stranger touches them. This will get attention and then tell all those watching to vidieo tape what is going on. Enough screaming children and adults making statements like "look this is not thier doctor and they are touching my child" Parents need to think critically before this ultimate control goes further. And it will. What's' next. Let your imagination think and you will probably be right.
Do you have any idea how many unscrupulous parents use their children to steal? They put stuff in their diapers, strollers, and yes even their wheel chairs. If you want to be mad at someone, point your anger in the right direction, at the muslims who've made us be this vigilant! Thank you TSA for caring about MY safety, even if a little boy has to scoot his butt over a little bit so you can see in his chair. SO WHAT?
Do you have any idea how many unscrupulous parents use their children to steal? They put stuff in their diapers, strollers, and yes even their wheel chairs. If you want to be mad at someone, point your anger in the right direction, at the muslims who've made us be this vigilant! Thank you TSA for caring about MY safety, even if a little boy has to scoot his butt over a little bit so you can see in his chair. SO WHAT?
OMG – this is not acceptable. I have a three year old and I would have lost my mind at this point. God bless this father for staying so calm. I could not. Maybe it's time we go after the criminals and leave the kids and old ladies alone. Please someone with a brain stand up and stop this crap.
Because god forbid we profile El-Al has the lowest hijack rate because they do profile. I realize anyone can be a threat but really this is out of control
OMG – this is not acceptable. I have a three year old and I would have lost my mind at this point. God bless this father for staying so calm. I could not. Maybe it's time we go after the criminals and leave the kids and old ladies alone. Please someone with a brain stand up and stop this crap.
This is bull shit. Our gov. is so wrong. Power hungry idiots. They need to forget about politically correct. And search the people who are the same race as the terrorists. Who cares if they get offended. They don't care that they scare the hell out of a 3 year old. If they feel the need to search children in wheelchairs, then why not let his dad do it. At least that would have been a little easier on him with the same result. NOTHING>
Anyone hear of common sense?
That's disgusting!! I can't believe that the US has come to this. Why not try to clean up our borders instead of harassing our own citizens. Really, a kid in a wheelchair and a senior citizen!?!? These people make me sick!!!
Omg thats above and beyond . Poor little guy …
Anyone hear of common sense?
Sick behavior is all I can say. This is beyond belief! Was this tsa agent getting his thrills by terrorising this child? Although this was 3 years ago, I pray this agent has been removed of his duties.
The sad thing is, there are some people that use children to break the law and children need to be searched just like everyone else. If people don't want their children searched, they should drive to their destinations.
Yeah, I can see how threatening the 3 year old was. When will TSA get any common sense. I wonder if they also screened the elderly woman with the cane. She could be storing who knows what in that cane. Just kidding.
I understand the outrage here but to be honest the TSA did the right thing. What you need to consider is the fact that terrorists will use any means possiable to hurt Americans. These nut cases do not have morals. A 3yr old in a wheelchair means nothing to these evil people. If we let our guard down in any way because of what we consider "over the top" searches, then we are going to open ourselves up to another 9/11.
We can succeed and get it right 100 times, 1,000 times, 1,000,000 times. A terrorist only needs to get it right once. That is why anyone can be a threat.
After reading a lot of comments so many people are afraid, what happened to America land of the brave (not) and home of the free (a big lie). We are so worried that someone will interfere with there little space that this country has fallen to the system and the terrorist don't have to do anything but laugh at a pitiful country. I don't think we can turn it around and the worst is yet to come. God Bles those who see and pity you with your blinders on.