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Not to pile on New York City’s new “random” subway bag-check, but one New York Times letter-writer points out a pretty fatal flaw in the whole thing. Here’s how the system works: “Riders will be asked to open their bags for a visual check before they go through the turnstiles. Those who refuse will not be permitted to bring the package into the subway but will be able to leave the station without further questioning.” Um, so if I’m a terrorist with a bomb, and I get pulled over for random inspection, I can just refuse the search, leave the station, try another station, and hope the police don’t pull me aside me next time around. Says the letter-writer: “Somehow this does not make me feel safer.” Somehow indeed.
