2011-07-06 21:29:49 - The administration's warning to foreign governments and American and international airlines that terrorists might attempt to board planes with explosives concealed in their bodies could accelerate a movement already underway to engage in terrorist profiling, including factors such as religion and ethnicity -- which, if done properly, is not unconstitutional according to the Supreme Court and the Justice Department, says public interest law professor John Banzhaf.

Banzhaf has suggested using the "Goldilocks" technique of including factors like religion and ethnicity, as well as age and gender, in TSA profiling procedures, something likely to be seen as even more necessary now, since "belly bombs" reportedly cannot be readily detected by current scanners.

He notes that the U.S. Supreme Court has authorized the use of factors like race in making governmental decisions which serve a compelling governmental interest, and that the U.S. Department of Justice has expressly authorized it for use in stopping terrorists.

"Despite this, many people still think either that its unconstitutional, or that it would not be effective. But a complex mathematical analysis shows that using factors like religion and ethnicity -- as well as age and

gender -- in screening procedures, would make them far more effective in stopping terrorists," says Banzhaf.

Banzhaf notes that using these factors in terrorist profiling would also help to deal with some of the current public outrage about body searches, which have included pat downs of toddlers, forcing an elderly woman to remove a diaper, etc.

Banzhaf, a mathematician as well as a public interest lawyer, has proposed a terrorist profiling plan which would made use of these factors, and is working with a legislator on a bill to make it happen.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE: TSA Screening Problems Exploding, But There's a Remedy:
www.prlog.org/11078571-tsa-screening-problems-exploding-but-ther ..

JOHN F. BANZHAF III, B.S.E.E., J.D., Sc.D.
Professor of Public Interest Law
George Washington University Law School,
FAMRI Dr. William Cahan Distinguished Professor,
Fellow, World Technology Network,
Founder, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
Creator, Banzhaf Index of Voting Power
2000 H Street, NW, Suite S402
Washington, DC 20052, USA
(202) 994-7229 // (703) 527-8418
banzhaf.net/