Lawmaker seeks air marshal inquiry

USA TODAY ^ | 9/02/02 | Blake Morrison

[kattracks]

A member of the House aviation subcommittee has asked government investigators to determine whether the federal air marshal program "is being efficiently and effectively run."

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., requested the investigation Friday in a letter to the Transportation Department's inspector general.

[Mudboy Slim]

"James Lineberger, a Philadelphia common pleas judge who was sitting diagonally from the detained man, said he thought the marshal held his semiautomatic weapon on passengers for too long. The flight was headed from Atlanta to Philadelphia with 183 people on board. ...Other passengers, however, said they thought the marshals handled the situation calmly and professionally."

With the little I know about this incident, I'd say Lineberger is a Lib'ral Nutjob, with a very pro-tort lawyer judicial style...I shall lurk anxiously to see if my first impression proves accurate.

FReegards...MUD

[Jmouse007]

The sky marshal did the right thing. We are at war with people trying to kill us and these guys are crying "foul" and want to sue and pursue it because the guy frightened them because he traine his gun on passengers for 30 minutes. He was doing his job in order to protect the lives of everyone on the plane.

[suroc]

On NBC News tonight, the judge identified the Federal Sky Marshal firearm as a Glock. Ok, so I'm a gun nut, but Sky Marshals use Sig Sauer P229 in .357SIG just like the Secret Service.

[Mudboy Slim]

"He was doing his job in order to protect the lives of everyone on the plane."

Exactly...and if folks don't like it, heck, give 'em an extra bag of salted peanuts!!

Just think of the bad precedent that will be set if these pencil-necks successfully sue...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

"I'm a gun nut, but Sky Marshals use Sig Sauer P229 in .357SIG just like the Secret Service."

Is every Sky Marshal required to use the same gun? I figgered it would be somewhat left to the discretion of the seasoned professional, considering many of them probably have been law enforcement officers elsewhere and could have become comfortable with using a gun other than that supplied by the Federal Government.

FReegards...MUD