TSA Adminstrator John Pistole told the Senate Homeland Security Committee today that passengers that turn down the full-body scanner or pat-down based on religious reasons, won't be allowed to board.
"That person is not going to get on an airplane," said Pistole.
Pistole says that tougher screening is necessary and that the whole-body scanner is safe and that the radiation received is similar to the 3 minutes of radiation you receive at 30,000 feet on a typical flight.
Regardless, video, blogs, websites and groups are voicing their dislike of the body scanners and the new more aggressive pat-downs.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is suing the TSA in federal court to stop the full-body scanners based that the machines are overly intrusive and violate civil rights.
"There's a very strong sense right now that the public attitude on the airport body scanner program has swung dramatically," said Marc Rotenberg, director of EPIC.
The Facebook page "We Won't Fly" profile says "Stop flying. Hit the airlines in the wallet until the porno-scanners are gone."
Looking at it's over 8,800 followers, the common consensus is most have decided to not fly. Many are suggesting to each other to take a train or drive to their holiday destination or heading to small municipal airport and chartering a plane. Others are just plain wary of the hassle at the airport and will opt to stay home, and avoid the whole issue.
Pistole hopes that travelers will not opt for the national opt-out day, that is designated to happen on November 24th, where passengers opt out of the body scanner for a pat-down.
"We just hope to look for the partnership of the traveling public to say, if you want to get home on a timely basis, then work with us as a partnership."
CNN interviewed Pistole asked if it made sense to screen pilots and Pistole said, "I believe we are finding a good way forward on that as we try to manage risk as to the security we need to apply to those groups for those very reasons.
When asked again if it makes sense when they have the biggest weapon in their hands (the airplane) Pistole said, "They are a trusted group in so many different ways, and so it makes since to do sometime, some different type of screening which we will explore and I think a way forward in the near future."
CNN asked about John Tyner in San Diego and the threat of a $10,000 fine and civil litigation because he didn't go through the screening process, and Pistole said, "Well there is a number of different possibilities there, the bottom line is someone does not go through proper security screening, they are not getting on the flight, so that's what it comes down to." Click here to watch video.
Pistole's answers make you wonder if he even knew who John Tyner was.
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