TSA Administrator Talks PreCheck, Liquids, Foreign Threats & Guns
Mary Minor Davis September 19, 2014
While visiting TSA operations in Chicago’s airports, TSA Administrator John Pistole shared agency updates.
Meeting with the Tribune Editorial Board on Wednesday, TSA’s John Pistole shared an update on the agency’s key priorities for preventing terrorism at U.S. airports, as well as a few enlightening factoids.
Pistol stopped by the Tribune while he was in town to visit security operations at both Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and O’Hare International Airport (ORD). During his visit, he noted that almost half of U.S. airline passengers passed through the TSA’s PreCheck program this summer, explaining that this is a “sign that prescreening is becoming the norm.”
The TSA, Pistol said, is looking to eliminate the 3-ounce liquid rule. When the agency does begin eliminating the liquid rule, Pistol noted the rule will first be waived for passengers who have already undergone background checks required for the PreCheck program.
Pistole highlighted that a reduction of time in the checkpoint lanes is another perk of the PreCheck program, telling the Tribune that the 1.7 million domestic passengers screened by TSA each day saw wait times of less than 20 minutes. This is down 64 percent over the previous year.
Pistole noted that the greatest threat to U.S. airport security comes from the 275 airports that fly in nonstop from foreign countries that don’t have the same security systems in place as the TSA. He said the TSA is working with these foreign partners on ways to ensure safer travel, such as having passengers entering the U.S. take off their belts and shoes, and swabbing their carry-on items for explosives.
The greatest contraband that Pistole noted as a “distraction” for TSA agents is the number of firearms seized at security checkpoints. David Castelveter, a spokesman for the TSA, told the Tribune that the agency finds an average of five or six guns every day at U.S. airports. In 2013, a record 1,813 guns were seized. Of the guns seized, 1,477 were loaded.
“That’s a distraction for us,” Pistole said. “Our singular focus is trying to keep terrorists off planes.”
[Photo: iStock]
I agree wholeheartedly krlcomm, I too have been through the procedure; forms, background check, interview and financial outlay. All of this to stand in the precheck line and watch as every second person from the general line gets shunted in front of me just so that the TSA personnel don't look like the bad guys. We all know that these "security measures" are NOT about passenger safety, they are about airplane safety and nothing else. They don't care about you and me, they care about the financial damage that occurs if an airplane is attacked. The TSA like many bloated government agencies needs to go away.
How exactly would having pax remove shows and belts, thousands of miles away, do anything to protect US security? Glad to hear he's looking to get rid of the ridiculous liquid ban, but he should look to get rid of the ridiculous "remove-your-shoes" and "remove-your-belt" bans (and everything else from reactionary security, such as computers out, light jackets off, and computers out)
Hey Mr. Pistole, I have an idea! Lets make a program called Pre Check, then have folks fill out exhaustive forms, undergo extensive background checks, pay $100.00 and then, if everything checks out, we'll them let go through a special line at the airport.... GREAT IDEA! But then, on the whim of some local airport TSA employee(s), TSA can just let EVERYONE at the airport got through the line... because... why not? That sounds like a GREAT idea! NOT!
Guns are a distraction? What about water bottles? Idiot.