MY FIRST husband was killed when a disgruntled airline employee used his ID badge to bypass security and board a plane with a gun in his gym bag. He shot his boss and the flight crew, and took the plane down. No one survived.
John Pistole, of the Transportation Security Administration, claims that those of us not in favor of the new full body scanners and intrusive patdowns fail to understand the seriousness of the situation. Believe me, I understand better than most people.
I am also one of those unfortunates who has two metal joint replacements. I’ve endured patdowns for years. I give myself extra time, hope that no one steals my purse and belongings when they come off the belt since I’m not allowed to retrieve them, and grin and bear it.
I’ve agreed to a full body scan, only to be patted down afterward. I’ve seen frail elderly people made to get up out of wheelchairs and terrified children confronted by TSA personnel because an alarm has gone off.
While all of this is taking place, how easy it would be to overlook someone who meant real harm.
Barbara Cone
Cambridge 
