Arm The TSA? I thought we were trying to get guns OUT of the hands of criminals?

With the recent targeting and shooting of TSA personnel in Los Angeles there has been some discussion that the TSA should be an armed government agency.

Seriously.

Let’s start of with logic…also known as: gun controllers kryptonite.

Why would the TSA need to be armed? For all intents and purposes, airports are gun free zones. People travelling with their firearm must have it unloaded and locked in a case. And no firearm can be present in the secured part of the airport which officially begins IN THE LINE of the security checkpoint.

So, if the gun free zone that gun controllers champion really work, then TSA agents don’t need to be armed to defend themselves and that whole LAX thing must have been in our collective imaginations.

But let’s look at the people who are being hired as TSA agents, or rather the requirements. I’ve no doubt there are plenty of hard working, honest and responsible people who work for the TSA, but the organization itself does not keep the bar very high.

These are the requirements of getting a job for the TSA:

a background investigation, including a credit and criminal check

a drug screening and medical evaluation

no debt defaults of $7,500 or more (except for some bankruptcies)

no delinquent federal or state taxes or past-due child support payments

males must be registered for Selective Service

must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national at time of application

must be at least 18 at the time of application

must be English proficient

must have a high-school diploma, a GED –or – “at least one year of full-time work experience in the security industry, aviation screening, or as an X-ray technician.”

There are more stringent requirements to pump gas or flip burgers let alone be an armed federal agent. The FBI process for example requires background investigations, character references, lie detector tests etc. Heck, I doubt many TSA personnel could get a state issued CCW if they tried.

Which brings us to the next point, what kind of people would we be arming if this notion of arming the TSA goes forward?

In a pretty compelling investigation by US Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn last year, Blackburn highlights 50 of the overwhelming number of criminal activities perpetrated by TSA personnel while on duty.

An excerpt:

The findings in this report provides a small snap shot detailing 50 crimes TSA

employees have been arrested for since 2005. This report does not highlight every

arrest that has been made since 2005. Collectively, the crimes these individuals

have been arrested for illustrates a deepening problem within TSA’s training and

hiring practices that makes the United States more susceptible to a domestic threat. Theft…………………………………………………………………15

Sex Crimes (Rape, Molestation, Prostitution)……….8

Child Pornography……………………………………………6

Assault…………………………………………………………….5

Bribery…………………………………………………………….3

Drugs………………………………………………………………….3

Illegal Firearms…………………………………………………..3

Airport Screening Failures…………………………………..2

Murder……………………………………………………………….1

Conspiracy………………………………………………………….1

Impersonating a Federal Officer……………………………1

Driving Under the Influence………………………………..1

That is just a taste. You can read the entire report here: “Not on my watch”: 50 Failures of TSA’s Transportation Security Officers

Anyone who has flown in the past decade or so has no doubt seen first hand many examples of bullying, abuse of power, improper touching, harassment, unprofessionalism and the like, at the hands of TSA personnel. Are these glorified mall cops really the kind of people you feel comfortable having a badge AND gun. The badge is bad enough for it gives off a false impression of authority, the gun just completes the package and will empower their self imposed imperiousness.

There’s a reason I used the word imperiosness.

Imperious:adjective; domineering in a haughty manner; dictatorial; overbearing: an imperious manner; an imperious person.

I took the word from the JOB DESCRIPTION of a TSA employment listing.

Transportation Security Officers (Ann Arbor)

See the individual you are in a vital position for our security firm where you implement security-screening procedures that counter deadly or dangerous objects from being smuggled onto an aircraft. Be part of a imperious security team protecting airports and skies as you proudly establish your future. Minimum Qualifications:

1. You must be a U.S. Citizen

2. You are required to have a high school diploma or equivalent PT, full training

• Location: Ann Arbor

• Compensation: $17 per hour

• Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.

• Please, no phone calls about this job!

• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

PostingID: 2926913263

If we are going to arm anyone in an airport, I would prefer it be the people, for I have move faith in them than I do in the imperious manner in which the TSA, it’s personnel and the government in general conduct themselves.

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