DENVER Some travelers at Denver International Airport seemed resigned to full-body scans and pat-downs Monday, and others said they feel safer because of them.
Few, if any, passengers said they were embarrassed or offended.
There was nothing intrusive at all, said Kathaleen Quinlan of San Diego, who went through a full-body scan there before boarding a flight to Denver to visit family. Everything was done very caringly, she said.
The Transportation Safety Administration has been trying to quell a public backlash after reports of rude or insensitive conduct by TSA agents at other airports.
There was little evidence of outrage Monday in Denver.
Its travel. Its the hassle of travel, said Justin Koch, 32, of Colorado Springs, a frequent flier for his job with bicycle component manufacturer SRAM.
He has doubts about whether the new procedures will help much.
Someone will find a loophole. That always happens, he said.
Larry Smith, basketball coach at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, said he was a little uncomfortable when he was patted down in Jackson, Miss., before his flight to Colorado for games against the University of Colorado and the University of Denver.
But he said he doesnt object because the goal is security.
You can never be too safe, he said.
Joyce Lincoln of Denver said she didnt see anyone object to the full-body scan in Houston on her way home from visiting friends.
We would rather be safe, she said.
Anna Simon went through a body scanner and was patted down when she flew out of Denver a few days ago. She was puzzled why she had to go through both.
I guess because Im a woman, Im hypersensitive, she said, adding that she meant no criticism of TSA.
Marisha McGeehee, who returned to Denver from Oakland on Monday with her 16-month-old son, Josiah, wasnt scanned but watched others go through it in Oakland.
Its a little personal, I think. A little too personal, she said.
Bernie Bottomley of Breckenridge said he went through the full-body scan on Nov. 16 when he flew from Denver to Phoenix.
His only objection was that he wasnt told he had to take everything out of his pockets. He was patted down after the scan because he left his wallet in his pocket, causing a little delay, he said.
However, he said the stepped-up screening makes him feel safer.
Its a real risk out there, Bottomley said. Theres no question about it.
Colorado Springs city officials considered a proposal to switch from TSA to private security screeners at the municipal airport on Monday but took no action, The Gazette of Colorado Springs reported.
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