Should Transportation Security Officers Be Armed?

It is the opinion of this writer that Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) should not be

armed. It is my intent to illustrate that point in this paper. During my research I will weigh the

advantages and disadvantages of arming TSOs, examining each side of the argument. I will also

offer a potential solution that while costly will still prove to be less costly than arming TSOs.

What has led to this discussion? For a majority of our society it takes years and certain

events to take place in our lives for change to occur. Those events include graduating High

School/College, getting married, or having children. In a matter of only five short minutes on

the morning of November 1st, 2013, some individual’s lives changed forever. On that morning

Paul Anthony Ciancia, age 23, opened fire in Terminal 3 of the Los Angeles International

Airport (LAX). His senseless acts killed a TSO, while injuring six other individuals. The

shooting has been debated over and over again on whether it is a terrorist act or not. The

activities before, during, and after the shooting will show the acts were certainly a terrorist

attack. But more importantly could any deaths or injuries have been avoided if the TSOs were

armed? These is the question that will continue to be debated and one that will be addressed in

this paper.

Synopsis of the event that led up to this argument:

Shortly after being dropped off at the airport by his roommate, Paul Ciancia pulled out a

rifle and began opening fire. He was carrying luggage that was filled with a semiautomatic .223

caliber Smith & Wesson M&P-15 rifle, five 30-round magazines, and hundreds of additional

rounds of ammunition (“Lax shooting suspect,” 2013). Walking up to the TSA checkpoint,

Ciancia pulled out a rifle and opened fire hitting TSO Gerardo Hernandez in the chest. Ciancia

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then apparently moved into the screening area where he continued to fire striking two other

TSOs and a male citizen. According to eye witnesses, Ciancia continually asked civilians if they

were TSA officers, when they said “no” he moved on without shooting them (“Lax shooting:

Latest,” 2013). Ciancia made it as far as the food court some five minutes after the first shots

were fired. He was then surrounded by LAX police officers who engaged him in a gunfight.

Shortly after the gunfight ended Ciancia was taken into custody where he had to be transported

to a nearby trauma hospital for gunshot wounds (Abdollah, 2013).

In total eight individuals had to be treated at the scene. Four victims were treated for

gunshot wounds, while the others were treated for other injuries (“6 hospitalized after,” 2013).

The sole suspect Paul Ciancia was carrying a note on him that stated he “wanted to kill TSA”

and describe them as “pigs”, the note also mentioned “fiat currency” and “NWO” (“Lax shooting

suspect,” 2013). The morning of the shooting, Ciancia apparently stormed into his roommate’s

room and demanded to be taken to the airport. The roommate did not sense any intention of

violence since Ciancia asked days prior for a ride to the airport claiming his father had been sick,

and he needed to go back home (“Lax shooting: Latest,” 2013).

After the shootings occurred the LAX police evacuated terminals, searched cars, and used

bomb sniffing dogs to see if there were any other suspects. The Federal Aviation Administration

then grounded any outgoing flights, and incoming flights had to be diverted to other airports.

Terminals had to be shut down and passengers had to be evacuated. Individuals had to be

questioned then rescanned to enter the facility. In a statement release Ciancia’s family stated

they were “shocked and numbed” by Paul’s actions, the family also expressed their sympathy for

the families of the victims.

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On November 2nd, federal prosecutors charged Ciancia with murder of a federal officer,

and the committing of violence in an international airport. Ciancia also faces attempted murder

for the two individuals who were wounded by gunfire (“Suspected lax gunman,” 2013). On

December 17th, a federal grand jury indicted Ciancia on 11 counts, and he could possibly face the

death penalty (“Federal grand jury,” 2013). Ciancia is set for trial on August 11th, 2014 where

justice will certainly prevail. While awaiting trial Paul was moved from a treatment facility to a

federal detention center.

Following the shooting, debates reignited on the effectiveness of airport security. It has

been suggested that TSOs should be armed with guns, while others opposed such statements. A

report was released that showed the flaws in the airport. The report stated that the lack of

communication and poor conditions led to the lack of emergency response. This leads into the

argument of arming TSOs or not.

Advantages of Arming TSOs:

 Arming TSOs will enhance the existing security infrastructure of any airport. The

argument would be that “more is better” and would definitely constitute a deterrent to any

individual who potentially considers committing an act of violence at an airport.

 Part of arming TSOs would be to provide training and by providing training you in

essence are professionalizing a group that has come under certain scrutiny in the past for

being less than professional.

 Following that argument you would also be creating a group of sworn law enforcement

officers held to a higher standard.

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 We’ve already done it with Federal Flight Deck Officers (FFDOs) and it seems to be

successful. FFDOs are pilots who complete basic training from the Federal Air Marshal

Service and periodically have to update that training. That training consists knowing the

laws using force, use of force techniques, and firearms skills.

Disadvantages of Arming TSOs:

 The salary would have to increase for those selected to be armed TSOs. The TSO would

demand a higher salary based on increased responsibility. The unions supporting the

TSOs have already alluded to this.

 There is also the matter of training. Arming TSOs is an expensive proposition. First,

there is the cost of the basic training which consists of providing use of force techniques,

knowledge of use of force laws, and firearms training. The average law enforcement

academy in the United States varies from 15 to 36 weeks. There is also the additional

cost of ongoing training. These officers would be required to receive quarterly training.

Not only is the training expensive, you would be requiring that an officer be off post

during that training, which requires the organization either to work short staffed or

replace that individual at an overtime rate. This would seriously “put a dent” in the

existing TSA budget which has come under increasing scrutiny.

 There is the matter of altering the hiring process. Selected individuals who have to go

through extensive background checks. Those background checks would be much more

extensive than what the existing workforce has undergone. Another added expense.

 There is the argument that arming TSOs would create more problems than by not arming

them. There is no guarantee that providing a weapon to an individual is going to

professionalize that individual.

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 Arming the FFDOs has not been proven to have had a deterrence on hijackings. Quite

frankly there have been reports of mishaps aboard aircrafts in the form of accidental

discharges. Why would arming TSOs be any different? (“Arming TSA Officials”,

2013)

What has been done while this argument rages?

Since the event TSA Administrator John S. Pistole has been called upon to review the policies at

airports around the country. TSA has taken steps to enhance the safety and security of its

employees and civilians nationwide. TSA has enhanced training, communication, and employee

support. Equipment and technology are routinely checked, and law enforcement is at

checkpoints to make sure their presence is known in hopes to reduce future attacks. Regardless,

there is no contingency plan that can cover every scenario.

Through my research I have identified what I believe are the essential advantages and

disadvantages of arming TSOs. At a glance it would seem that the obvious solution would to be

to arm TSOs and simply from an altruistic point of view one would have to agree that would be a

benefit to all. But looking at the situation as a whole it would seem unwise to spend countless

dollars for a solution that is not guaranteed to work. It is my belief that the disadvantages far

outweigh the advantages. A potential alternate short term solution would be to increase law

enforcement presence at airports and to improve the technology for screening individuals

entering airports. While these solutions are not a panacea, they are at least taking a step in a

positive direction.

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References

Abdollah, T. (2013, November 15). Lax shooting: Tsa officer hernandez bled for 33 minutes at

scene – report. Usnews. Retrieved from

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/15/21471203lax-shooting-tsa-officer-

hernandez-bled-for-33-minutes-at-scene-report

6 hospitalized after lax shooting; suspect in custody. (2013, November 1). Marinadelrey.

Retrieved from http://marinadelrey.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/shots-fired-at-lax-

tsa-employee-wounded

Federal grand jury indicts lax shooting suspect. (2013, December 17). Cnn. Retrieved from

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/17/travel/lax-shooting-indictment

Lax shooting suspect reportedly told police he acted alone. (2013, November 4). Foxnews.

Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/04/lax-shooting-suspect-told-

police-acted-alone

Arming TSA officials not the answer. (2013, November 1) CNN

Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/01/opinion/hawk-dont-arm-tsa/