Many contend, with strong credibility that to travel in a country the size of the USA for many purposes (other than long, slow vacation) flying is not optional, nor any of the things now associated with it. (Particularly to Hawai’i, Alaska, Guam or other areas outside the 48.)

Secondly, the terrorists used 4 planes to kill those people by taking over the controls, nothing to do with what was in their luggage. Of course we don’t want bombs in luggage but they are not much more threatening than bombs in any crowded place. So 9/11’s cirmustances are not relevant to this question, other than in discussing a general fear of increased terrorist attack.

There is not “no damage.” A friend of mine had his bag searched for bombs, and they found a small amount of harmless pot — something they had no reason to search him for — and arrested him. There are many other stories of negative consequences here.

If you feel we should start searching everybody as they go about their everday lives, then rewrite the 4th amendment. Seriously. If what you want is so popular, you can get the 2/3rds votes needed.