I thought local LEO's were supposed to have a "need" in order to carry on a flight, not like many FLEO's who always carry. Am I wrong?

No your right, but my question stands. Why shouldn't sworn, credentialed LEO's be allowed to carry their firearms on board aircraft?

Because some animals are more equal than others. I belive that the vast majority of cops out on the street are hard-working individuals who discharge their duty professionlly.

But there are too many bad apples out there. Look at the cop in Washington DC who pulled his weapon out because his Hummer got pelted with some snowballs? What about the Chicago cops convicted of robbing drug dealers and turning around and selling the drugs to other drug dealers? Do you really want them carrying on your flight when doing to Disney World with their family? I think checking weapons for them is just fine-- they can get them at their destination.

I'm not saying that FLEO's are beyond reproach, or even that there aren't some bad apples out there, but I believe it is much less pervasive and I believe that they are held to a slightly higher standard. They are also held to standards that are uniform throughout the country depending on the agency, opposed to tens of thousands of different standards for every local police department.

Why should those with TS+ clearance be screened-- or should they? A different issue to be sure, but we trust them with our nations deepest secrets.

What about my take on local LEO's vs. FLEO's. Is that on target, or is that an unfair assumption on my part? I don't know, but that's my impression.

Local, State, or Fed, we all have what we lovingly refer to as our 10%. Those bad apples, who are in a small percentage, continually make the rest of us look bad. I like your point about the TS+ not being screened. I don't know if I agree with it, but it is a good point. I guess my view is if a FLEO Special Agent for the IRS is allowed to carry on board, how come not the Local PD Officer? LEO is LEO. IMO. But I guess your Animal Farm quote hits the nail on the head.

Perhaps I'm jaded when it comes to local law enforcement from living in Chicago. (The city here intentionally covers up and/or ignores police misconduct as a policy. I do have the evidence to back this up, by the way.) So my question is, when a rogue FLEO is discovered, is the "system" any better at weeding them out than locally?

Also, as a general policy, wouldn't you say the less guns in the cabin, the better? I'm not sure how I feel on the topic. Also, if every cop flew armed, I think that might be a strain on the system in terms of the paperwork involved and the boarding process where everyone has to know everyone else. Finally, do FLEO's have a better background check than local, or is it the same one?

Regarding the TS+ folks not being screened, that's part of the TSA Amendment Act that the House passed. (Congress also exempted themselevs. ) This is the same Act that prohibits WBI as a first-run screening technique. So it wasn't my idea, though it has been mentioned here before.