TSA chief says no to arming airport screeners

[marmar]

On Thursday, the head of the Transportation Security Administration visited Los Angeles International Airport, the site of a Nov. 1 shooting, where he rejected the idea of arming TSA security officers.

TSA chief John Pistole visited LAX to announce the opening of an enrollment center where passengers can submit background information to apply to use faster screening lines.

When asked about the Nov. 1 shooting that killed TSA agent Gerardo Hernandez, 39, and wounded three others, Pistole said he had rejected the idea of arming TSA agents at the screening gates.

Shortly after the shooting, the union representing 45,000 federal security agents called for the creation of a class of armed TSA officers with law enforcement training and the authority to arrest people. .....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.latimes.com/business/travel/la-fi-mo-tsa-chief-says-no-to-arming-airport-screeners-20140130,0,5174412.story#ixzz2rzX2PB3I

[Matariki]

1. Good. Because guns and the authority to arrest people is the last things those people need.

[RC]

2. I thought some of them were already armed.

I remember see sidearms on some TSA uniformed personal. In both North Dakota and Kansas City. And this was years ago.

[Proles]

3. If I'm not mistaken, Kansas City doesn't

use TSA.

Airports can choose to be exempt as long as they employ their own comparable security force.

[RC]

5. Like I said, this was years ago, but I do remember the holstered guns.

[Proles]

6. I was very close to becoming a TSA officer at DCA. I took the test and everything, but

ultimately decided that I could move into a better career path.

TSO's aren't law enforcement personelle, so I don't believe they should be armed with even so much as a stun gun. Unfortunately, the TSA isn't exactly the most respected institution, and are always at risk of being shot at by crazies.

EDIT: Woops, meant to hit reply for the OP.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Waht could possibly go wrong if they were armed??