LAX shooting reignites debate over TSA workers' role in security 

    The recent shooting that took the life of a Transportation Security Administration official has sparked a debate on whether or not airport screeners should be given firearms as well as arresting powers in order to protect people in the wake of last weeks tragedy. These officers have been entrusted to protect our checkpoints and by not arming them are we not giving them all of the necessary tools to do their job? Which is to protect and ensure safety at security checkpoints. With the ever growing phenomenon of public shootings this debate is relevant as ever.

    Despite their appearance and title, the TSA are not federal officers. With a workforce of more than 45,000 people across the country, the idea of arming these individuals in the immediate aftermath of an event like what happened in LAX seems like a fair argument. But when you think about it, that's a lot of guns, and a lot of training would have to come with that. Arming TSA officials would only make the matter worse in the long run.

   While the events that happened can warrant a discussion one thing that must happen, other than arming 45k people, is to review and evaluate policies with both the airport police ( who are armed ) as well as TSA officials. At most international airports, hundreds and hundreds of armed police officers are roaming around at any given time. Arming that however many more people, I believe, will not prevent a similar incident from happening. Regardless of the unfortunate fatality, the events that happened at LAX were rather efficient. As soon as the shooter opened fire, the response mechanism was kicked into gear and the shooter neutralized.

   This event was good in a sense that the TSA can reevaluate their policies and procedures but any change would be time-consuming and distracting to officers and their mission: finding people and items that present threats to aircraft.