I believe in written security policies. I also believe in common sense. A lapse of either can create a security breach.
Take the case of 8-year-old Cub Scout Mikey Hicks. Despite the TSA's contention that there are no 8-year-olds on the Terrorist Watch List, Mikey's been getting the pat-down at airports since he was 2.
While Mikey isn't on the "no-fly" list, his name is on a "selectee" list that triggers heightened security screening.
So relax, air-travelers. You may end up next to a guy with exploding boxer shorts, but you have nothing to fear from renegade Cub Scouts.
The case of Mikey Hicks demonstrates why some people resist security policies. Written policies can trump common sense. And when folks resist the policies that are designed to protect them, they may be putting themselves a risk.
A lapse of common sense also diverts resources from genuine threats. When Mikey Hicks sets off an alarm, the TSA staff that must focus on clearing the Cub Scout to fly are not, at that moment, focusing their energies on stopping real terrorists.
"Why do they think a kid is a terrorist?" Mikey asked during a recent New York Times interview. Good question.
When you write your security policies, make sure they don't cancel out common sense. If you do, you may become part of the problem, not the solution.
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