Airport security law and regulatory frameworks

Airport Security Law:

Airport security is one of the major issues that have emerged in today's society for travelers across the globe. It is a major issue because of the increase in insecurity, especially with the increase in global terrorism. Actually, global terrorism has been a problem for air travelers and airlines despite enhanced security measures at airports. The events of 9/11 attacks highlighted the various security risks that airports face and demonstrated that the adopted the security initiatives were not enough to protect airlines and airline travelers. Generally, airport security can be described as methods and techniques used to safeguard staff, passengers, and aircraft from harm, accidents, threats, and crime. As a result of the increased security threats across airports, there are several legislative initiatives that have been taken to enhance security. One of the recent aviation laws that relate to airport security is the proposal by U.S. House Democrats to ban loaded guns at airports.

The Airport Security Act of 2013:

The Airport Security Act of 2013 was a proposed by some U.S. House Democrats to ban loaded guns across all airports following the recent killing at Los Angeles International Airport ("Johnson Proposes Loaded Gun Ban," 2013). If enacted into law, the bill would prohibit any individual, except law enforcement personnel and specific officers, from carrying loaded firearms in airport lobbies, terminals, ticket counters, baggage claim sections, and neighboring pick-up and drop-off segments. Notably, passengers who plan to buy or have already bought tickets would be allowed to carry unloaded firearms in a locked hard-sided container. In this case, the combination or key to the lock of the container would solely be in the possession of the specific individual. The proposed legislation would also require airports to post signs that clearly demonstrate that they are gun-free zones.

As previously mentioned, The Airport Security Act of 2013 was drafted after recent killing in Los Angeles International Airport. The suspected shooter i.e. Paul Garcia was violating the law when he carried a loaded firearm to the airport even before he purportedly murdered Gerardo Hernandez, Transportation Security Administration agent and wounded other individuals. His violation of the law by carrying the gun is attributed to the fact that Federal Law forbids passengers from bringing their guns onto airplanes or beyond the security checkpoint (Felde, 2013). In addition, carrying loaded guns in public places is prohibited by California law, where the incident occurred. Since some states have not enacted similar legislation, Georgia's Democrat Congressman, Hank Johnson introduced The Airport Security Act of 2013 to help ensure that all states have adequate airport security measures.

When introducing the bill, Johnson argued that the modern society requires a different look at airports and planes, which are prime targets of terrorism acts. In light of the increased global security issues, it does not make sense that other individuals other than law enforcement personnel and specific officers are allowed to carry loaded firearms within an airport. Therefore, enacting The Airport Security Act of 2013 simply make sense. The enactment of the legislation would help in enhancing airport security since it would expand the jurisdiction of Homeland Security to include non-secure segments of airports. Furthermore, the enactment of the bill into law would mean that the federal law supersede state or local legislation that permit carrying loaded guns in any airport countrywide. The prohibition of loaded guns within airports would also incorporate public transportation stops in the airports.

Generally, the expensive and inconvenient security measures adopted in the country after the 9/11 attacks have proven relatively ineffective in making airplanes and passengers secure since they remain susceptible to security threats. The Transportation Security Administration has continually enacted various initiatives to enhance safety. In the past few years, the union representing the administration's agents has changed its position on carrying guns to an extent that some of them are currently supporting claims that they should be armed. These calls are partly fueled by the recent killing of one of them at Los Angeles International Airport.

While the Transportation Security Administration does not expect an immediate overhaul of its overall security policy in the aftermath of the incident at LAX, the enactment of this bill into legislation would help enhance airport security (Hampson, 2013). One of the major ways with which the legislation would contribute to enhanced security measures is through ensuring that ordinary individuals i.e. passengers are not allowed to carry loaded guns. By prohibiting such people from carrying loaded firearms, incidents like the one that took place at LAX would not occur. Secondly, the act will help in protecting airports by ensuring that law enforcement agencies and specific officers are the only ones allowed to carry such firearms.

The Airport Security Act of 2013 presents a break from the past in terms of airport security laws since it does not primarily focus on airplanes, which is the main focus of the existing airport security laws. The law focuses on people within the airports who are more vulnerable to the security threats than the aircrafts themselves.