“The Transportation Security Administration will not arm its officers in the wake of the November attack at Los Angeles International Airport that left one screener dead,” usatoday.com reports. “TSA Administrator John Pistole said a review of the Nov. 1 shooting that killed behavior-detection officer Gerardo Hernandez is centered on improving communications with airport police and local law enforcement, the Associated Press reported. Other key issues are police response time and where panic alarms are placed and how effective they are.” Strange how USA Today, the AP and the TSA avoided any direct mention of the fact that the armed cops who should have been protecting the TSA officer (and the public) were on toilet and lunch breaks at the time of the attack. Allegedly. The TSA union disagreed with Pistole’s anti-pistol position . . .
J. David Cox Sr., national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said that the union was “disappointed” by Pistole’s comments, calling them “premature” because the shooting investigation has not been completed and the comment period has not closed.
“We encourage the Administrator to avoid making judgments before all of the facts and recommendations have been considered,” Cox said in an e-mail statement to USA TODAY. “The tragic events at LAX exposed a critical vulnerability in our airport screening areas, one that is left unfilled at our peril. The current patchwork of security protocols is not up to the task of defending against sudden and violent attack like the one we witnessed last year. We believe a consistent, professional, and armed presence would close that vulnerability.
“TSA has the authority to create a new classification of professional law enforcement officials to defend our screening areas in a coordinated manner. Our recommendation is that TSA act quickly but judiciously to do just that.”
See now that’s funny! Even the TSA Union knows that it’s members are (as a group) about as ready to counter an active shooter threat as Jabba the Hut (who is, after all, a fictional character). And, with a straight face, they suggest another layer of armed law enforcement officials in charge of transportation security to complement the airport police, city police, state police, U.S. Air Marshals, TSA, FBI, CPB and U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (where appropriate), DHS and John McClane.
I’ve got an idea! How about we “let” armed Americans exercise their natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms while they travel to both deter terrorists and psycho killers and deal with the threat when it arises? It so crazy it just might work!
I presume that the Mayor of Detroit is not an MDA/AIG member in good standing?
They shouldn’t be armed. In fact, TSA needs to be dissolved.
From the quotes in the article, it seems that Chief Craig may be a TTAG reader. Just in case he is, nice work, Chief Craig. Keep reading.
Funny you mention the TSA. Here’s one of their former employees letting the cat out of the bag…
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/tsa-screener-confession-102912.html#.Uu0dyCJyfFr
Actually literally just read that, Jim.
Thanks for keeping close tabs on me and making sure the good stuff gets spread around some.
But the TSA is the only reason we’re safe!
But we need more cops carrying guns because the ones we’ve already got are highly competent and overwhelmed with crime!
But the people can’t be trusted to, you know, take care of themselves!
/end sarc
The only TSA check that should be done on civilians is to ensure that all personal ammunition accessible in flight is frangible.
Dunno if I’d even give them that. Barring hitting the oxygen supply or a fuel tank a bullet through the fuselage is pretty much going to only create a windy (0.45″ diameter 😉 ) hole…
I like this guy. He’s forming his opinions based on evidence, rather than talking points or feelings. Well done sir, I hope you can keep your job.
Excellent.If the average school teacher, meter maid, utility worker, and court clerk can manage without a gun on duty, so can TSA. Unlike the latter , those government employees actually have a necessary job.
TSAs mission mandate of restoring confidence in the airways is over. September 11 was 13 years ago, the airlines have recovered , and the average American isn’t taking the train to avoid flying.Disband the Federal PR agency and let local law enforcement enforce LOCAL penalties on misbehavior.
Let the TSA be armed, although after looking at the”our staff of professionals are eagerly waiting to serve you picture” this is said with some trepidation. We must always respect the anti’s fear that a TSA handgun could go out of control, & would there be enough people to jump on said handgun & make it behave?, I don’t know, this is pretty complicated stuff. Gotta go now, the latest roster of Russian brides/lookers is here & I know the one would reeealy love me, Randy
Tonight, he will perform exactly as instructed and will only be released when I’m satisfied!!!!
Detroit will emerge from bankruptcy. Like most entities that emerge from bankruptcy with debt pared, I expect they will thrive and show other entities how its done. It will take a few years though.
You know what the perfect job for the TSA is? Protecting the other spaceship.
Someone needs to make sure all the telephone sanitizers get on board safely.
Hitchhiker’s Guide reference ftw.
I always thought that would be a fantastic idea.
I cannot agree more with keeping TSA unarmed. It is bad enough having them go through you bags and steal. Give them a gun and now you have armed criminals. TSA needs to be abolished and replaced with private sector personnel and held accountable.
I’m from northern California and I haven’t brought my politics here. most Californians I know love guns. we get as close to that legal cliff as possible. think 10 round bulletbutton AR in the trunk next to 4 lbs of maryjane . completely legal in Cali if you don’t smoke.
laws in California are not challenged because we are ALL too busy working to survive to challenge any of them. politicians are a disconnected elite.
most cali ideals:
Weed – legalize it
guns – teach us and we will love them
abortion – uhhhh not touching that one
prohibitions and general bans – you mean that’s not normal?
Income tax – you mean everyone doesn’t pay it?!
We are more normal than you think. we are just the agenda 21 test bed for brainwashing
People in high-security areas such as LAX, the DC Navy Yard and Ft. Hood should feel totally secure in their gun-free zones. Me, I’m shivering in my boots because I know that my guns are more likely to shoot me than a criminal, and I have a lot of guns just waiting in their steel vault with nothing to do but to plot their revenge.
“Shotgun wedding”? How old-school.
‘When all the guns are outlawed only the outlaws will have guns’
This interesting piece lends credence to the notion of liberal-minded Californians moving to other states and taking the ideology with them:
filmworks.filmla.com/2014/01/31/californias-runaway-production-crisis-draws-national-attention/
Criminals’ fears: armed citizens, big dogs, and police, in that order.
So, unless you can carry a cop around, get gun and a big dog, hell, get a big gun while you’re at it…
In terms of safety, TSA is strictly window dressing for those who are unable to think critically. The reality of TSA’s existence is that it is simply part of the relentless machine of government control. It is one if the baby steps along the way to a total police state.
I’d but that for a dollar!
I have an assault firearm 7.62 x 39 with 30 round clips great firearm for general purpose fire fights or deer hunting with a 5 round clip
I also own a Bernili M-1 12 ga shot gun.
If I was to pick the best all around defense and offence firearm the M1 is my first choice.
Great out to 75 yards can hold 10 rounds of various types of ammo and using buck shot take out multiple targets with one shot or place on rapid firing take out crowds of criminals with a hail lead balls fired at them
Of course the Benilli cost 6 times more then the Russian assault weapon but it has awesome capabilities
Everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion, particularly based on their own experience and body habitus, but I have carried a Glock 27 or my Glock 30 in my pocket in Kydex pocket holsters from Kytac or Condition Orange Holsters, literally every day that I’m not in a suit/off duty. 5.11 pants/shorts (in South FL) make this easily possible, and I have no problem with standard Khaki pants either. Jeans might be more problematic. As a result, I had never previously been interested in a .380, until I actually shot (and thereafter purchased a Glock 42 “blue label”). While it’s still “just a .380” balistically, I had never fired a gun (including the LCP, TCP, and Smith .380 bodyguard) that had such insignificant recoil impulse for the caliber and yet remained completely reliable for the 200 rounds I have put through it thus far.
Just had a pop up that was a Obama refinance add! That A HOLE is got some kinda balls attaching that kind of crap here. Ohhh, the reason im posting…SIG couldn’t give me a gun for free…JUNK!! I work in a shop here in FL that carries SIG. We have had to send back 6 P238’s, 2 P220’s due to CRAP manufacturing! SIG used to be a good product before they started making the barrels and slides here in the US. And the guns they make entirely here. like the P238. Give me an older SAUER, German built gun any day of the week over there US made junk! Many PD’s have dropped them to go to Glock, and Smith because of all quality problems. The Dutch canceled a 1500 pistol order from SIG for there P250 polymer NIGHTMERE! When the Dutch received the first part of there order, they noticed that some of the brand NEW guns were missing their firing pins. So they told SIG to take their junk back. And these pistols were for their POLICE. Just go to SIGS website and check out all the discontinued pistols and rifles they have on there. More discontinued models then some big name companies even produce! JUNK with a capitol J!!
And yet, the four incident streak we’re on of killers using shotguns instead of evil black rifles hasn’t caused a run on 00 buckshot.
Obviously, I’m anti-spree killings, but part of me wants the gungrabbers to overplay their hand after the next shotgun spree and start calling for limits/restrictions/registrations/confiscations on basic shotguns. Let the fuds and fencesitters alike see that this has always been a strategy of incrementalism and divide & conquer. Let the grabbers lay bare their own lies with a too soon snatch at their ultimate goal.
What gun-grabbers don’t realize is that I’d much rather be up against some idiot spraying with a fully automatic weapon than a disciplined shooter with a semi auto. The safest place to be for the “spray-and-pray” is directly in front of him, and in a couple seconds, his weapon is empty. The disciplined semi-auto shooter is just going to flat out put a bullet center-of-mass, and follow up with two or three more if that doesn’t impress you.
I think this is awesome.
The best thing my Pizza Hut had when I was of an age to think those keychains were cool was a tabletop Ms. Pacman.
I have a large conflict here.
Plenty of 22s at hand to shoot.
But my last new 45 was a European Armory Compact.
Half the price for the same amount of gun in my eyes.
So no deal for me.
Id rather spend the $300 for a slide conversion and/ or get a full size 1911 22LR outright.
I bet I got action figures that could use some additional armament.
Except Batman. Damn flip-flopper.
Great comments. Thanks! (Dealing with switching from 50 years of revolver to autoloaders. Ha ha. Still like revolvers (Colt and Smith). Kind’a like my new Kimber 1911. We shall see. Now……. Probs with the Kimber mag. Patience!
Looking at all that dry brush I don’t see them ever getting approval for grenades. Might end up with too much collateral damage.
Have you seen the average TSA officer? Old, fat, out of shape and no police training what so ever, let alone fire arms training. If you arm the TSA, the training course will have to include Federal police training (average 10 weeks) at one of the federal law enforcement training centers like FLTC in GLYNN County GA. That will make them police officers and that means they would have to be younger under 37 years old to start. On top of that, they would have to qualify every three months like CBP. It will be an administrative freight train waiting to derail. When TSA officer are hired, they qualification standards are low for age, physical fitness and education and most of them could not qualify for a law enforcement job at the federal level. In fact they are seek the position as an entry into the federal employment system. they are not told that carrying weapons are part of the job description because it is not. Want to arm them? fine, but get rid off 75 percent of them and replace them with young, educated and physically fit personnel. Mr. Pistole is right in not wanting to arm his and their Union should not insist. If you are going to inspect people out of the federal area, an armed officer should escort the TSA. What happened in LAX can happen any where to any one and it calls for better procedures not for arming officers that will probably be shot in an incident due to lack of experience or mental attitude.