[PapaBear3625]

The state of intoxication of King (or lack thereof) is also irrelevant. The beating was entirely unnecessary given that, even in a worst case scenario short of King being armed (a virtual impossibility given that he just got off a flight), the burly body guards could simply have pushed or picked up King by an arm each to move him outside their artificial perimeter.

It was not impossible that King would be armed coming off a flight. You can transport your handgun in checked baggage. If he had a Texas CCW license he could have gone to the mens room with his bag, retrieved his stuff, loaded up, and be armed going out the terminal door.

[Tallguy]

It was not impossible that King would be armed coming off a flight. You can transport your handgun in checked baggage. If he had a Texas CCW license he could have gone to the mens room with his bag, retrieved his stuff, loaded up, and be armed going out the terminal door.

How likely is that? Considering that we know how difficult that the military makes it for base personnel to legally carry a firearm (Major Nidal shooting incident). My guess on the number of West Point Cadets with access to personal firearms.... ZERO.