I’m standing by what I said in this post, including the part where I backed off something I said in this post.

This post, about TSA groping procedures, and what my reaction will be if what happened to Cara Ellison ever happens to my wife or daughter.

First, I said “there’s going to be a fight.” Then I backed off that, because I’m not going to premeditate a violent confrontation. Resist, yes. Refuse to go along, yes. Go to jail, yes. And: there’s no telling what our emotional, visceral reactions will be in the heat of the moment. Violence is certainly possible. I’m frankly amazed there hasn’t been physical resistance already.

These are invasive, offensive, abusive procedures that meet legal definitions of sexual assault. Reacting violently to such an assault on one’s wife or daughter is understandable. But premeditating that violent reaction isn’t.

I’m getting comments on my previous post, comparing TSA agents to Nazi concentration camp guards. Both, the comparison goes, were “just following orders.” This is worse than useless. We’re not living in Nazi Germany. Not even the Weimar Republic. I fully expect Congress to respond to public outrage and force serious changes in TSA procedures: in fact, this would be an awesome issue for the new Republican majority’s first month in power.

We should also call on TSA agents to demand changes. At the very least, procedures should require a more private area for more invasive searches, and a few moments spent informing the traveler of what’s about to happen, why, and what their rights are. Surely, they can see why we’re ticked off about all this.

But that requires us to treat them like potential allies, not inevitable enemies.

I stand by what I said: I won’t allow this to happen to my wife or daughter. It’s entirely possible that I’ll become physical, if the situation requires that. But the situation will have to require it. I won’t assume up front that I’m going to swing my fist at somebody.

Previously: If this ever happens to my wife or daughter, I’m going to need some bail money.