LAX Shooting Renews Debate on Armed Airport Security
The fatal shooting of a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer last Friday at Los Angeles International Airport has renewed the debate about posting armed guards at airport security screening stations, according to Timemagazine.
Security officials are discussing a variety of options, from arming TSA employees to keeping police officers closer to checkpoints, in an effort to improve security. Directly after the 9/11 attacks, armed officers were commonly posted at airport screening stations, but as budgets tightened over time, airport police became more of a patrolling presence. TSA administrator John Pistole says the agency will review how it works with airport police and discuss overall airport security with Congress.