As summer draws near, many students at BYU are preparing to fly home for the break and may also be making plans for vacations or trips where they need to fly to get to their destinations. It’s common opinion that going through airport security is a hassle, and many travelers think that the process should be shortened to meet their wants. Airport security is made out to be this horrible ordeal that has only one purpose — to be inconvenient. I can assure you that’s not the case. I have an uncle, cousin and father who are all commercial airline pilots, and I personally travel a lot, so security is important to me. The security process put in place in airports is there for everyone’s safety; it’s very beneficial, and the amount of security should not be changed or reduced.
My dad was flying during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, so I can tell you from experience how frightening it can be to be worried about a loved one while they’re flying. Fortunately he was OK, but many people lost family members or friends. Thanks to airport security, more than 50 attacks have been stopped since 9/11. If security were to be reduced, attacks could be more likely to succeed. I know that when I fly I’m comforted by the fact that security is so thorough; it makes flying that much safer. So next time you’re waiting in an airport security line, say thank you to the security officers who are looking out for your safety and well-being.
Nancy Widtfeldt
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
