Originally Posted by Ron Bennett

Wrong. Most large commercial airports are publicly owned.

Furthermore, commercial airports get all sorts of public funds, including from the Feds, as well utilize public right-of-ways, such as runways, approaches (ie. the landing lights and transmitters often located well outside the airport itself that help guide planes in and out), and the overall airspace itself. Also, the TSA agents aren't private security. All large commercial airports are public to some extent.

Furthermore, even private establishments, such as stores, that are open to the public are often considered public accommodations - they can't legally discriminate.

Point is that just because something is "private", which, to reiterate, most large commercial airports are not, does not give them carte blanche in regards to violating one's rights - for example, a privately owned store open to the public that had big signs saying a strip search is required to enter would be illegal.

Ron