Getting "GUNS" Through Airport "SECURITY": The RESULTS

[MegalosSkylaki]

In the immortal words of eminent and distinguished CaddQ :

EGADS !

Yes the DooG DOOG was utterly surprised that the results of a a study where some Federal (?) group, according to MSNBC News was that 25 % of fake guns were gotten through airport...errr.uhhh "security" .

The WORST: This is especially worrisome due to its proximity to both NYC and Wash. DC....the worst with about 50+% of phoney GUNS gotten through was CINNCINATTI

The BEST: With ONLY (huh?) about 8 % was MIAMI.

I haven't looked for an On-line Reference and more specific numbers for each Airport studied--so be my guest.

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I believe I posted once before that the "federalization" of the existing group of Security workers was a grave error.

People get used to a certiin way of doing things and at 7$ an Hr. did it with a devil-may-care 'Tude of "outside contractor" employees. "Federalizing" them gives them more benefits--but ain't going to change the 'tude.

They needed to fire the whole bunch and hire new blood--like ex-military with some experience in security situations and comfort with small-arms.

With a national recession, there is no shortage of people who would jump at a Federal job. The Feds could pick N' choose prospects.

The especially sad part of all this is that it has been known for a long time--even BEFORE 9/11. Seems like nobody wants to make waves.

On a related Topic, a Businesss can make nmoney if it is Capital Intensive, but Labor Economic. Or visa versa . The business model of airlines has been to be both Capital AND Labor Intensive.

So if we want Airlines in the USA, we're going to have to do what Countries throughout the World have had to do: Subsidize them.

Pick up "airport fees", "fuel tax" This and That tax, etc. Eliminate this tax burdens in view of the 'special situation'.

In the long run, more in the "spirit of Capitalism" to have competitive airlines (and profitable) --than a single Last-Airline-Standing.

DOOOOOOOOOOG

[MegalosSkylaki]

After the LAX events, one should consider having security Start at the Airport door and repeated BEFORE entering the Airport building.

What is to prevent a bomb in a car to do some serious damage--or create a Security distraction for a "second team".

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Last nite, on Fox News an Author of "Airport Rage", a book on Airline Security was interviewed. The alleged axpert claimed that the security at Airports has NOT improved since 9/11 . Further, that Security has to be "proactive, rather reactive".

In other words, if I understood him correctly, that the "bad guys" should be "made" BEFORE they even get to the Airport.

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Again, I would argue for "phasing out" the existing "security crew" and creating a Security Brigade" from scratch.

* * *

Just heard that EL AL uses TWO bullit-proof doors to the Cockpit.
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DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG

[caddmannq]

In the immortal words of eminent and distinguished CaddQ...

Egads! I'm pretty sure I'm not eminent in any particular field. The only thing distinguishing about me is my bald spot and tri-focals. And...hey!...don't I have to be dead before any of my words become immortal???

I do agree about the proactive security practices. Without them, a few guys working in concert could easily smuggle the parts of a sophisticated gun on board a plane, and assemble it in the john in about two minutes.

Besides, the security guys they have now are busy taking insulin needles and canes away from a blind, diabetic, one-legged guy, who was also a high ranking ex-military intel officer. (Actually this happend to a good friend of mine, at Kennedy Intl.)

[F/A-18 MechDood]

I am not suprised at all that fake or real guns were still getting through.

[mad1]

Guns at a airport,ney york times.

I thought they had reallys strict gun laws there?

[TheBurningCat]

F/A-18 MechDood : me too.......

[Epidemic]

Yea and we are not going to let pilots have guns. This makes sense.

The screeners are so busy trying to take away nail files that they miss guns.

I am surprised that they catch any guns. It is probably almost impossible to distinguish a gun in a vertical position in luggage scans. A top down view will appear to be a non destinct dense object. Not unlike a battery pack or a maglight with out the shroud. Any smart terrorist could smuggle a gun on el al were it not for the interviews they conduct.

The long and short of it is unless you profile and Unless you search almost all bags this will happen.

Air port security is all show. Evidenced by stealing their 0 tollerance for jokes. I mean how many terrorists are going to say that their computer is not a bomb. Yet if you say that they will string U up. Pre 9/11 my friend was being grilled about a lap top that he had. In passing he made the stupid mistake of saying it is not a bomb as he powered it on. OOOOOPs. The secruity guy said " I wish you had not said that" Not to mention he did not get on the flight that day.

A terrorist would avoid that word at all costs.

Airport security is a joke. And in America will continue to be a joke until we step off our PC platform and start adding things to our profiling process. IMO of course. Profiling is not a panacea but it is a start.