Originally Posted by
cbn42
Thanks for bringing it back on topic.
So far, everyone seems to agree that TSAs cannot carry personal guns on duty, but no one has cited any federal or state law or regulation that prevents them from doing so. Anyone have a specific reference? I know it would probably be common sense, but it has to be somewhere.
The rules governing on-duty employee job conduct are employing agency work rules. Same as uniform, how many breaks you get, and all kinds of other stuff. They also generally specify what you can and cannot carry for personal items. This could include personal cell phones, firearms, and whether you can chew gum.
The real reason underlying all of this has little to do with firearms and everything to do with compensation. Federal laws and OPM rules dealing with employees who perform law enforcement functions (having nothing to do with their title) are entitled to certain pay scales, better retirement and other benefits as the result of their LEO status. Those rules definite what consitutes a "law enforcement officer" and one of the key indicators is that the individual is authoirzed or required to carry a firearm on duty.