DAVE ROSS

How secure do we want to be?

Nov 4, 2013, 5:51 AM | Updated: 9:57 am

Airport security is intended to keep people from sneaking weapons onto planes - but in this case, according to a note found by the FBI, Paul Ciancia was gunning for TSA agents. (AP Photo/File)

(AP Photo/File)

The FBI is asking for any pictures or video taken around the time of Friday’s shooting at LAX because nothing quite like this has happened at a U.S. airport before. Airport security is intended to keep people from sneaking weapons onto planes, but in this case, according to a note found by the FBI, Paul Ciancia was gunning for TSA agents.

“He indicated his anger and his malice towards the TSA officers,” said FBI Special Agent in charge David Bowdich.

Police are pretty worried, because if he’d been after passengers, he had enough ammo to shoot just about everybody in the unsecured area outside the checkpoint.

Which as CBS’s Teresa Garcia points out, is an area open to anyone.

“I have spent many an hour in the LAX airport, I saw even homeless people sleeping on benches there. And clearly, Paul Ciancia got through without a problem. If we become so intensely worried about how easy it is to get a gun into there, I wouldn’t be surprised about some kind of screening process before you walk through those sliding doors.”

Really? We’re going to make passengers go through a curbside pre-check?

The irony is that in the name of security, we’ve created these corrals with hundreds of passengers crammed together waiting to be searched; passengers like Linda, “I think the probability of anything every happening again right now right here, probably not.”

She found herself at the very spot where it happened, but took the approach that sooner or later all of us have to take: just keep focused on where you’re going.

Said Linda, “I’ll feel secure when I get to the gate and I have a Starbucks and I’m OK.”

Read more:
LAX shooter remains heavily sedated, under guard

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

3 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

10 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

1 month ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

2 months ago

How secure do we want to be?