Last month, a six year old was patted down by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at an airport in New Orleans. The video of this screening went viral and has created controversy whether it was an appropriate procedure or not.

Students at Placer have mixed emotions on this topic as well. Some believe that this was an okay thing to do and that it is necessary to keep the people boarding the plane safe,

“I think that it was right that the little girl got patted down because if it were an old man, no one would have any problem with this. Why should she get special treatment just for being a little girl,” said junior, Brittney Mackenzie.

I agree with Mackenzie. I think that the airport security did not go too far. As long as a parent is present I believe it is perfectly fine. Adults are targeted as people who could have a weapon, so that gives them the option to place bombs, guns, knives, and other weapons on young people.

“Children are still capable of carrying dangerous things into airports so they should be put under the same safety rules as everyone else. The public is overacting about this because the ‘victim’ is a young girl. If she were a few years older, it would not make and be on the news,” Mackenzie continued.

While other students think that it was unnecessary for this to happen and that TSA should not be able to pat down children and they should just be left alone.

“I don’t think that it’s right for them to pat her down because she is just a child. The idea of her carrying a weapon is absurd,” explained junior, Elijah Bolas.

It has not been clarified why the six year old was screened.No one really knows why this has taken place and think that security needs to show a valid reason or they seem like they are infringing the rights of an American citizen.

“Airport security in this case, has gone too far. A justifiable reason should have been presented and approved of before the screening took place,” said junior, Max Brandt.

Since the video was viewed and the picture has been spread around the public has gotten involved and are worried about their children being screened as well.

“To a point the public is overreacting to this, but I do agree that the TSA is stepping out of line,” Bolas expressed.

TSA reported that they “reviewed this problem and it was shown that the airport security followed the correct screening procedures that they were trained to do. However, they are exploring additional ways to move beyond a one-size fits all system while maintaining a high level of security and are trying to improve how they screen younger passengers”

The public and the media are blowing this situation completely out of proportion and they should let the parents of the child be the ones to decide whether or not the procedure was inappropriate or not. The security was doing what they were told to do and tried to keep the passengers safe.