Then I will say TSA is not biased, until then it’s just causing an unnecessary stir in the Sikh community and brining Americans who are illiterate about Sikhism closer to being more hateful about us – The only turban wearers in the West…..

I don’t know if i agree with you on that reading. If they said that the method by which the screeners would choose specific people was discretionary or that head covering searches are allowed at a screener’s discretion than yeah, it would probably suggest some type of profiling if a particular screener felt any person with a head covering deserved to be searched (whats unfortunately inevitable is that regardless of policy, some screeners will do this anyway). However, at least in the excerpts referred to in this post, the term discretion doesn’t apply in those ways. The first mention But now security will have greater discretion to inspect turbans so that they can be manually checked for objects such as non-metallic weapons. suggests that security will now have the ability to inspect turbans through different physical methods as opposed to just taking one off and unraveling. Its why its followed directly by the non matellic weapons bit and is preceded by the methods which were allowed previously.

The second reference also seems to be a physical as opposed to profiling reference: Despite the fact that the TSA guidance lists turbans as an example of headwear that can be the subject of secondary screening, a TSA screener is not required to conduct secondary screening of a turban. The screener can use his or her discretion to determine whether he/she believes the turban could conceal a non-metallic threat item. Here the TSA asks the screener to judge whether a partiular turban could physically conceal a non metallic threat item—its why they refer to a singular turban and is even prefaced by the bit that says the turban doesn’t have to be subject to secondary screening. One reason why the kippah may be exempt is because the TSA may believe (as they also seem to suggest about some turbans from this sentence) that they physically cannot hide a dangerous non metallic threat. This is justifiable difference, but a very, very poor one because anyone with familiarity in the area can tell you that a non metal explosive that would be very dangerous can definitely be hid under some kippahs.

in re: your comment 54.

the key word is “discretionary.” the pat downs you speak of are random. the new TSA policy allows discretionary (and seemingly recommended) searches precipitated on head coverings, namely the turban.

But if they’re truly worried, then shouldn’t they be doing large scale and random strip to your underwear searches then?