Politics and Airport Security

Re “GOP Bypasses the Bipartisan Truce,” Oct. 14: The House Republicans oppose having the federal government take over airport security, with the higher wages and higher training and performance standards expected of federal employees, because it would cost too much (even though the Senate plan includes a $2.50 surcharge per ticket to offset the higher cost).

Yet we have federal employees (of the USDA) at airports to inspect the baggage of passengers arriving from foreign lands for prohibited foods and plants that may harbor exotic pests. Apparently the House Republicans feel that it is more important to use federal employees to protect the economic interests of agribusiness than it is to use federal employees to protect the lives of Americans on airliners. Typical skewed Republican priorities.

Charles Bernhardt

Alhambra

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In an amazing show of unity, the U.S. Senate voted 100-0 for an airport and airline security bill that included an amendment sponsored by the often-maligned National Rifle Assn. allowing trained pilots to carry guns in the cockpit to protect themselves and their passengers as the last line of defense until other, more stringent measures can be implemented (“Aviation Security Bill Clears U.S. Senate,” Oct. 12).

Most amazing were the yes votes from California’s two absolute anti-gun senators. One can only conclude that when push comes to shove, practicality beats out political rhetoric.

Michael L. Friedman

Torrance

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I fly almost every week. The latest flight from LAX to Oakland had the following security failures. Two people without tickets for the plane I was on Sunday night to Oakland were able to get on the plane. In Oakland an elderly man was selling newspapers by walking around approaching people. He was behind the security gate without a ticket. How does that happen? I was told that I would receive a random bag check before boarding the plane (I was told this four hours before it happened). Any self-respecting terrorist would leave, given that much lead time. And, finally, I was able to get on the airplane to Los Angeles without showing my ID.

The airlines have to get this together. There have not been more airplane incidents because the terrorists haven’t wanted to do one, not because we are preventing it.

James Guerrero

Huntington Beach

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On Oct. 11 I was subject to several searches at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, on the way back to LAX. While this was good, I was disappointed with the nature of the searches. They were quick and cursory. I can think of a hundred ways I could have smuggled contraband past these searches. The people doing the searches were way too concerned with my inconvenience. This caused them to rush. They did not interrogate me or attempt to see what I might be up to.

I am sure they were new workers hired in a rush, and they obviously had no training on how to interview people. The threat is in the people, not the weapons. Weapons are in abundant supply even in the most secure place. If we are going to thwart those who would make bombs out of our airliners, our security people need training on how to spot terrorists. Let’s teach them more than just how to root through my dirty underwear looking for would-be weapons.

John Delaney

Huntington Beach

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Putting the National Guard at our airports in these times is prudent. The bad guys know enough about our weapons to see that the Guards’ rifles have no magazines in them (“U.S. Strikes Back,” photo, in the Orange County edition, Oct. 13). I think we owe the American people the protection afforded by loaded weapons.

Gabriel Lederer

Orange