>A clear, plastic water pistol displayed on school grounds may, in most cases, result in a student's suspension, and sometimes even expulsion.

Well, at least they're being indoctrinated at an early age. The "school rules" go home with every student at the beginning of the year. Busy parents may, or may not, read them.
Water pistols.
A part of the American way of growing up. Eight year olds take them to school to break the boredom. Like gum under the seat, it's an American Tradition.
Suspend an eight year old. Then try and fine his parents if he does it when he's nine.

>The mind-set is for the screeners to operate to the letter their security briefing. This is no middle ground. There is no gray area.

These new rules and regulations were set under pressure and time constraints....they need to be reviewed. As a woman, I like to travel with nail clippers, a file and tweezers. I have done it for 20 years. Now I am constrained to broken, rough, catchy nails, unruly eyebrows because some 65 year old man can't tell the difference between me and a terrorist.
Ugly, this is getting ugly.
And even uglier.

>I would think post-9/11 common sense would be for travelers not to put up a fuss with security officials regarding the weapons they stash in their hair.

If American females have to give up their hair barrettes for a poorly run system in which an uneducated individual has the right to tell them how to dress, stand, reply under their orders (which are VAGUE, to say the least), then we have given in to a system, that by it's very existence...takes away all our LITTLE liberties.

>People who scoff at federally mandated precautionary measures should be removed from federally regulated facilities.

I would agree with you here, but where are the guidelines, the oversight, and the COMMON SENSE??