In Tampa, Fan Sues Over NFL 'Pat-Downs'

Johnston's opponents say that because pro football games draw together so many people, are broadcast nationally and are of an "iconic nature," they are a natural target for terrorists.

"We are at war," said Milt Ahlerich, the NFL's vice president of security. "Terrorists want to kill large numbers of Americans. This is a proportional security measure that we are taking in the interests of the fans."

While NFL security officials had recommended the pat-downs in previous years, and at some stadiums, such as the Redskins', the searches had already been instituted, the league decided to make them mandatory after the London bombings in July. In Tampa, it costs $7,500 per game borne by taxpayers who subsidize the stadium authority.

None of the other major sports leagues has such a stringent rule for searching fans attending games. The pat-downs are now being conducted at all NFL stadiums, except for Tampa's and Chicago's, where the team is discussing the idea with the city park district that owns the field.

Johnston, who describes himself as a conservative Republican, said he sometimes wonders if he was the right person to challenge the policy, calling himself "sensitive" by nature. But alarmed about being patted down before the team's first home game this year, he contacted the American Civil Liberties Union and began his case.

"There are a few of my Christian conservative friends who say, 'You're with the ACLU?' " he said. "That has been called into question."

He teaches the Constitution to high school students here, and said he just couldn't bear to see it, in his view, trampled in a rush for anti-terrorist security.

The NFL policy calls for every ticket-holder to stand with arms extended to be patted from the waist up.

"What's to prevent . . . hands to accidentally go other wheres," he testified.

Asked whether he harbors any fears that by halting the searches he may be allowing a terrorist to get into the stadium, Johnston said in an interview: "Definitely not. To me, it would never be a target. I don't know why they think it would be."

Ahlerich would not discuss any specific threats the NFL stadiums may have received.

At Raymond James Stadium, there was one bomb threat phoned in a couple of years ago, but it was determined to be a prank.

"Do we have to wait until someone blows up one of our places until we can do the pat-downs?" Ahlerich asked. "That is the question."

Johnston said he had to file suit, despite being averse to controversy. But he said he realized most fans aren't willing to fight because "people don't want to give up going to Bucs games."