What makes a security risk?

[TNDemo]

My family took a trip last week. We decided to bump our return flights up to an earlier time and evidently that is a red flag. All of our luggage got searched but my 23-year-old daughter and 20-year-old son were identified as security risks and they got the thorough going over. Did not search my 12-year-old daughter, husband or me. Then yesterday we dropped my son at the airport and as we drove off saw them opening his suitcase again after he had gone into the terminal. Is it their age or what? They are your average looking college kids. I thought maybe it could be related to the fact my son attends Berkeley (and thus must be a radical terrorist) but my daughter does not. Is everyone going through this or do my kids just look like they want to hijack a plane?

[TNDemo]

1. And, BTW, what terrorist takes their parents along?

[bryant69]

2. I Understand this

The alternative to random checks is for security guards and what not to try to targer those that look suspicious (i.e. mainly Arabic looking men, unfortunately (probably black men too, come to think of it)), which has it's own problems.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[SheilaT]

3. It's random and senseless

and I personally see no point in washing my feet for a couple of weeks before any flight.

I've seen security insist someone who clearly cannot walk get out of a wheelchair and somehow go through the metal detector. I've seen them do the thorough search of women with a couple of toddlers. Elderly nuns are sometimes high on the list.

Apparently the reasoning is that anyone at any time is a potential terrorist no exceptions based on age, social class, or ability (as opposed to disability) status. It's totally nuts.

Someone give me the numbers as to how many planes have been hijacked in the U.S. since 9/11? Or how many hijackings were foiled?

I thought so.


added on edit:

I maintain that we are already living in a police state, and this kind of thing is proof of that.