Security Screening Debate

Forrest Gump would often say, "Stupid is as stupid does." Well, thanks to the stupid actions of a couple of former Comair employees, all airport employees, including mechanics, that work in secure areas of airports are in the sights of the government for security screening. Tulsa World reported on April 11 in its article "Watching Workers: More Checkpoints Possible: Airport screening debated" that Congress, the TSA and airline representatives are debating on whether or not security screening should be expanded to include all employees who work within secure areas of airports. What started the debate? A couple of STUPID airline employees. In March of this year, a baggage handler in Orlando used his employee uniform and airport identification badge to bypass security and deposit a duffel bag in a restricted area. The next morning, a Comair employee boarded an airplane bound for Puerto Rico with the bag. Thanks to the assistance of an anonymous tip, police in Puerto Rico arrested him as he got off the plane. So what was in the duffel bag? Believe it or not, 13 handguns, an assault rifle and eight pounds of marijuana! Both employees have been fired, and are being charged in Puerto Rico with smuggling. And Thanks to the actions of these stupid employees, all airline employees could be drastically affected if the government passes stricter security screening rules. Common sense would say that there is no way mechanics can be held to the same security standards as the general public. What will airplanes get fixed with, fingernail clippers? But then again, bureaucrats in Washington are seldom accused of having too much common sense. You can click here to read the entire article. What are your thoughts? Joe Escobar