Yes, but the security forces on these installations are trained in the use of and, more importantly, when to use deadly force. They would try to avoid that use at all costs before having to commit to it. I wonder if some of these ASSinine shoe checkers would exercise that kind of control.

He accidentally drove into a military installation on a public-use, FAA licensed airport - not quite the same as deliberately penetrating Nellis, say. He reportedly drove through an exit gate (and anyone who is familiar with the ANG base at DSM knows which one it was ), past the F-16 lineup and eventually onto the taxiway. That he was able to do so points out the security weakness of this particular installation, and just possibly you are ascribing more nous to the Guardsman at the gate who could have been looking the other way or otherwise distracted or inattentive.

People inadvertantly drive onto airports with alarming regularity (with no evil intent). Emptying a clip at them might strike some of us as a slight overreaction.

And the TSA link here is that, in the opinion of many, rigorous passenger screening is less of a countermeasure than keeping the ****ing gates shut.

C'mon Bart. From the article:

Now, certainly this old guy shouldn't be on the road. But prosecuted under federal law??? Paleaze. What a waste.

Of course, had the guy been shot, he may have been closer to meeting his dead friend.