TSA rejects arming officers after LAX shooting

Associated Press ^ | Jan 30, 2014 4:07 PM EST

[Olog-hai]

The head of the Transportation Security Administration said Thursday his agency has officially rejected arming officers in response to a November attack at Los Angeles International Airport.

John Pistole made the comments after a news conference to announce the opening of a “pre-check” application site for expedited screening at LAX.

TSA union officials have called for creating armed officers from the agency to ensure safety at screening checkpoints. But Pistole said virtually every issue is on the table except for arming officers. Introducing more guns is not the solution, he said.

The agency is conducting a review of the shooting that left one officer dead. …

[Puppage]

TSA union officials have called for creating armed officers from the agency to ensure safety at screening checkpoints.

Yeah because THAT'LL help.

[backwoods-engineer]

I'm actually happy about this. Arming those fools would get MORE people killed.

But I still say, let concealed carry permittees carry on planes.

Like that will ever happen. I will just avoid flying.

[MNnice]

Thank God. Why would we arm those incompetent bureaucrats?

[smokingfrog]

Good thinking John Pistole.

[Pietro]

Why arm TSA guys when DHS already has an armed police force deployed to airports?

[Bryanw92]

Good. Less armed federal officers is better.

[SampleMan]

They should arm them with the weapons that they confiscate.

You know, like nail clippers and T-shirts with pictures of guns on them.

[Hulka]

“TSA rejects arming officers after LAX shooting”

Good. . .me too.

[Dick Bachert]

Does anyone in his right mind want these people to be ARMED??

[Ghost of SVR4]

Could it be because most of them would not pass the background check?

[LachlanMinnesota]

What is faster? A hand reaching for a panic button and the response to that button, or a .45 ACP bullet on a straight trajectory?

I would research this, TSA, and let the answer be your guide.

[Dutch Boy]

That is a very likely scenario.

[WayneS]

Good. There is no reason for those goobers to be armed while “working”.

[Slings and Arrows]

I wouldn’t trust a TSAhole with a squirt gun.

[WayneS]

Good point. I hadn’t thought of that.

[tioga]

Oh, good. Granny is safe.

[WayneS]

And you even made the comparison more fair by choosing one of the slower moving handgun rounds on the market...

[arthurus]

Arming of TSA agents would lead to multiple shootings of passengers and bystanders. It would make airports far more dangerous places to be.

[BatGuano]

I agree. They have a wine bottle corkscrew and a tiny Swiss Army knife with scissors that belonged to my wife. They did offer to allow her to mail them home but, in both cases, she opted not to go to the back of the line and wait another 30 minutes. There is no common sense shown by these goons from TSA, thank God that they will not be armed.