New From the Bad Ideas Dept: TSA Union wants to arm agents

[cstone]

It *will* happen, eventually.

Name the time frame for that happening and I may take that bet.

For screeners to get armed, it would take a whole lot of political capital being expended by Congress and the Administration. No one outside of a few fringe elements in the union have any real interest in arming screeners.

Given what happened at LAX last week, if half of the screeners had been armed, there still would be one dead screener and at least one other screener injured before the shooter got shot. The only difference that might have been would be who shot the criminal.

This is a non starter and has no real legs.

[Jer]

The TSA is this country's Gestapo. It WILL happen. It's only a matter of time and is inevitable. The timeline will vary depending on political climate and # & frequency of disturbances but it's going to happen mostly because nobody gives a shit.

[ray1970]

So let me get this straight, when a person who's attacked that's a government employee they want to arm themselves for protection. When a person is attacked who isn't employed by the government the government's solution is to strip them of all means of protecting themselves. I got that about right?

Bingo. You beat me to it.

[lowbeyond]

Heh. Yep

Dont you get it yet? They are better than you.

[ray1970]

Heh. Yep

Dont you get it yet? They are better than you.

Pfft. Not any of the ones I have seen. They would barely be capable of pouring piss out of a boot if I told them the instructions were written on the bottom.

[cstone]

Calling TSA America's version of the Gestapo is demeaning to the Gestapo. You all do know what the Gestapo did right? Asking for papers and searching people would be one of the Gestapo's warm and fuzzy moments.

Tell me when you all think TSA screeners will be armed? I like my odds in this one.

[ray1970]

Tell me when you all think TSA screeners will be armed? I like my odds in this one.

I wouldn't bet against you on this one.

[Jer]

Calling TSA America's version of the Gestapo is demeaning to the Gestapo. You all do know what the Gestapo did right? Asking for papers and searching people would be one of the Gestapo's warm and fuzzy moments.

Tell me when you all think TSA screeners will be armed? I like my odds in this one.

Do you think that the Gestapo started out like that? The beginnings were just as humble and non-threatening as where the TSA is now. They all start somewhere and grow however much the people allow them to. They've already WAY overstepped their bounds and have far outlived their usefulness yet rather than dissolving the TSA we're not talking about putting them in charge of high school prom security and now arming them? Pretty soon with all this new found power they'll be given more responsibility. Then it's just a matter of time.

[cstone]

Do you think that the Gestapo started out like that? The beginnings were just as humble and non-threatening as where the TSA is now. They all start somewhere and grow however much the people allow them to. They've already WAY overstepped their bounds and have far outlived their usefulness yet rather than dissolving the TSA we're not talking about putting them in charge of high school prom security and now arming them? Pretty soon with all this new found power they'll be given more responsibility. Then it's just a matter of time.

The HS prom story was based on an issue that never happened. A judge ruled that TSA certified personnel were required to perform pat downs on prom attendees. TSA was not consulted, never sent anyone, and did not certify anyone to conduct any prom pat downs. I believe the NM State Police did send some people, but it is a two year old story about something that did not happen.

From 1933 to 1945 (life of the Gestapo) everyone in Germany lived in fear of a visit from the Secret State Police. Hardly what I think of when I think of the blue shirts at an airport checkpoint.

I generally discount most comparisons people make to any Nazi organizations. They are so often blatant hyperbole.

I, for one am not afraid of TSA. Not one single person in the entire agency even gives me pause for concern, other than my general disdain for wasteful, ignorance which seems to be so prevalent throughout local, state, and federal government. Do I wish my tax dollars were better spent, YES. Do I worry about the blue shirts morphing into brown shirts? Bwahahaha

[ray1970]

I fear the TSA about as much as a mall security guard.

I do dread having to deal with them at airport security.