Originally Posted by
cbn42
I don't think the government should provide them with firearms. However, they are in a concealed carry state that allows anyone to carry a gun in public by applying for a permit, then I don't see why TSA staff should not be able to apply for a concealed carry permit and use it in the landside area. For example, at ATL, anyone with a Georgia concealed carry permit can carry a gun in the terminal up until the checkpoint. If a random guy who came to drop off his friend can carry a gun, why can't a TSO?
At many airports, it will be a problem if you want to restrict the firearms to the landside area.
TSOs have posted in the past that it's impractical for them to be required to leave their cellphones in a break- or locker room because these facilities are often in the sterile area, too far away to conveniently access during a break.
You'll have the same issues if you try to exclude TSO firearms from the sterile area - there's no secure place (unless each airport builds it) landside to store the gun if an armed TSO wants to access facilities inside the secure area.
How many guns, even on licensed government workers, do you want to introduce into the sterile area?