I am a convicted felon. I find it disheartening that we're in a situation today where felons are lumped in with every type of felon that exists. I am a 42 year old white male with a loving wife and intelligent daughter. I own and manage two separate businesses which are successful, and I to work around 60 hours a week. At 19 I forged a check for 186 dollars and after being "caught" the first time I never went to court thus exacerbating the initial charges. Ultimately I have a felony, served 90 days of time and had two years of probation. I give to two charities and we have our own charitable organization which assists local elders in our community. I messed up and now, according to many people I'm not only a horrible person, but I'm not allowed to do a seemingly simple job such as airport security? Has anyone MET some of these persons working these jobs? How about at the DMV? Have you ever really spoken with some of these people? Or, for that matter, pretty much anywhere and everywhere......people nowadays are just not that bright .... at all. And have you read the reports circumventing loss prevention and how many incidents involve "honest" people? Think about it. Do you really believe it's in the best interest for a felon to do anything out of the ordinary in a dishonest manner within the realm of his job when he/she knows he's already in parenthesis? I received my undergrad at Univ. of Washington in Seattle and my graduate from Dartmouth, I have a deep understanding of myself and my surroundings. I'd venture to say that honesty comes from within and isn't just an "action" but a natural right of existence. Stop judging and let's create a mandate that certain felons get their "label" dropped after an allotted period of time. It's been 23 years for me, give me a break already.

Dan---You should try applying for a job after you get in trouble with the law. Very simply, you don't get hired. You don't even get an interview. Being an employer, I know first hand the ignorance. I was once a troubled youth. I would do anything to get a job, once I decided to straighten up myself. If that means lying on an application to put food on the table, then guess what I'm lying on the application. A white lie, is better than starving or going back to the life you are trying to escape. Sometimes you have to bend the truth to survive. Essentially, that is what we are talking about, isn't it? As always, I appreciate your oppinion, keep doing what your doing, but don't be so closed minded that you don't see the truth behind the entire story. Let's parallel your "own" splint story. At first glance your in a military uniform & wearing a splint. Then when people are trying to do their jobs, you become hostile & uncooperative. You even state, "it could have gotten ugly". Are you being judged unfairly? Are you the ex-felon trying to get a job? If my safety depends on making 1 person unhappy than I guess YOU are going to be unhappy. I would say that 99% of all Americans feel this way. You Dan, just happen to be the 1% that has an entitlement complex. I could be wrong, but you seem to be passing judgement & writing your "own" rules. Unfortunately, that is not how the world works. Keep it 100.

Dan while I agree that there are some less than desirable people in the screening force, to say we're " all a joke " is in-appropreate. That's like calling all soldiers baby killers. We have about 10 percent of our workforce that are acting military or retired, so you are also not being fair to them. We as the grunts are given our orders ( SOP ) and have to follow them as a military private would have to. You cite the fact that you were in uniform - well I remember a Major that just recently murdered 13 soldiers and wounded 30 at Ft. Hood, he also had a uniform on. Yea talk about stupid orders - disarming our troops on a military base.
You ever been to a Army surplus store lately? We are just doing our jobs as any soldier would do. Obviously TSA cannot make everybody privie to why we do certain things nor do we as screeners agree with the procedures but we are not high enough in the food chain to make the rulings. Besides when is the last time a plane has slammed into a building as of late? Guess somebody must be doing their job right.
You do not have to fly, you could always find another mode of transportation or better yet jump a military flight.
Happy trails to you and stay safe.
Thank you for serving your country!

DAN:
You hit the nail RIGHT on the head! When you intenionally DO NOT list any crimes on your application it is "deceitful" application. The apps don't say, "Were you convicted of a crime (10) yrs. ago?" It's not specific. It says ANY crime means from the time you were born until current. He didn't list it....end of story...he's terminated. Period! There are some Federal Jobs you WON'T get (ever) and that's just the way it is. Whether they're "sorry" or they say, "I was young and stupid..." OK, but if your PARENTS didn't teach you right from wrong...then...YOU pay the consequences and what we must reiterate in TODAY's society to these juveniles...YOU DO A CRIME (whatever it is)...YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for what you do for your ENTIRE life and that's that. DO NOT do something that you will later have to apologise for. The problem with society today is not enough Parental involvement (discipline) to when they become Adults. So sorry for this fool who wants to "whine" about how he owns (2) successful businesses now and he was convicted of a Felony for forging $186 check. Was it worth it? If he was going to take a chance he would've been no far worse than signing a $11,860 check and he would've received the same Felony charges. DUMB! It's (former) military like you and me that need to set the "Zero Tolerance" standard and make sure the vibrations are sent right up to the top Mgmnt. of TSA and the White House!

John....point very well taken. And, I might say, more articulately than I'm used to seeing on these posts. There are circumstances that can find almost any one of us using momentary poor judgement...sometimes this lapse is met with severe consequences. But...as with a loan, once your "debt" is paid off, it should be put behind you and allowed to stay there. It is what we do, not what we did that really matters.
I have a son who is now serving time as a felon because of one of those "circumstances" I mentioned and a no-tolerance violation in which the system would not look beyond the "facts." I am encouraged by reading your post that there is hope for him in the future, and that he, too, may flourish. I wish there was a way for him to get your guidance and support when he returns to an apparently unfriendly world. He will need all the help he can get.
My best wishes to you. Bungydiver...here at AOL.