Fort Lauderdale rampage sparks questions about TSA gun policy
Thursday, 09 Jan, 2017
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Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport has reopened after the deadly shooting rampage, as questions are raised about the transportation of firearms and whether baggage claim areas are secure enough.
Gunman Esteban Santiago removed his gun from a checked bag, which was transported legally, loaded it in a bathroom and opened fire in baggage claim.
Five people were killed and eight injured.
Baggage claim is outside the secure areas monitored by Transportation Safety Administration agents.
Passenger advocacy group FlyersRights.org has called for emergency measures to prevent further incidents.
"Airports are now clearly the number one soft target, and are naked and totally unprotected," it said in a statement.
It has called for a ban of live ammunition in checked baggage.
Under current TSA rules, unloaded guns can be legally transported as checked baggage in a lockable hard case which can include separately packed ammunition.
"TSA doesn’t want to infringe on anyone’s right to take a firearm with them when they travel. We just want to make sure it’s packed in the safest way possible and that it’s in a checked bag so it’s not accessible during the flight," TSA spokesman Mark Howell said.
In addition, baggage claim areas are not part of an airport’s secure ‘airside’ zones and can be accessed by members of the public without any ID at any time.
The American Federation of Government Employees, the union which represents TSA agents, said it wants measures put it place ‘to improve the security of passengers, TSA officers, and airport and airline personnel.’
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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