Opinion: The Ft. Lauderdale shooting exposed a major airport security flaw

To the editor: What is striking, and unreported, is that this relatively small and contained crime scene (the shooter did not even try to move around or escape), located in the open public area outside of the security area for the terminal at Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport, morphed into an airport-wide shutdown because of a serious flaw in basic security checkpoint design. (“Florida airport shooting suspect will face charges that could bring the death penalty,” Jan. 7)

The exit lanes from the terminal gates that lead to the baggage claim areas have no physical barriers and only limited unarmed security. Terrified passengers fleeing the baggage area can simply turn around and run back through the exit corridor, ignoring all those ominous warnings, and in seconds destroy hours’ worth of security screening as they surge back into the gate area, rendering the entire terminal and airfield unsecure and at risk.

This type of event was foreseeable. Such a lack of foresight and imagination by our airport security professionals is inexcusable.

Mike Post, Winnetka

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To the editor: Once again, there’s carnage.

I travel the world to countries where people have no guns but have universal health coverage. How do I explain to them that in my country we let people have semiautomatic weapons but we take away their health coverage?

So proud.

Barbara Rosen, Fullerton

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To the editor: Why not have luggage that contains guns available for pick-up at a location other than the airport? Travelers in the U.S. have a right to feel safe.

Priscilla Lazzara, Chula Vista

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