Originally Posted by
TheRoadie
In the same vein as my earlier suggestion to buy armor for any screener who wants it, TSA could put snare nets on the ceiling over every checkpoint. Anything bad goes down, instead of calling a Code Bravo, they just push a button and everybody in the area gets snared. Keeps the bad guy corraled while LEOs show up. Keeps the passengers in other areas of the terminal safe.
Might have a bad outcome for the innocents trapped along with the bad guy, but it's like being on the undesirable side of a waterproof hatch as the ship goes down. Sometimes you lose the draw.
The greatest good for the greatest number, and all that.
Why buy armor for every TSO? Do like commercial operators do: have a supply of armor (with the wars winding down, DHS should be able to get it from the military) and let TSOs who want to check it out at the beginning of shift and return it at the end of shift. Keep strict inventory control and deduct the cost of any missing vests from the last individual who checked it out.
For those who want tailor-made armor or something a cut above, do what construction workers do: buy your own, deduct the cost on your taxes. Don't file deductions? Well, then you're no worse off than a construction worker who buys his own hard hat and steel toe boots.
The answers don't always have to be 'Quick! Find someone who will give us an answer if we sign a contract to pay a lot of taxpayer $$'.