TSA chief says no to arming airport screeners [View all]

[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