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Comment by darkerside | Hacker News Reader

Those people are human beings that need to get somewhere, too, and the bus is the cheapest way for them to do it. That's why they're there, and weeding them out with TSA isn't really the best solution IMO.

I think hijackings are over because everyone now knows that if you pull a knife or a gun on an airport, you will immediately get taken down by literally everyone on the flight. People before 9/11 didn't realize the downside risk of a hijacking was a suicide crash. It was just unthinkable. Now that we know, it will never happen again. TSA is not a factor.

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You don't weed out the people, you weed out their drugs. The threat of being caught with drugs by a security guard means they don't bring their drugs with them onto the plane. Net result: fewer people currently on drugs sitting beside me while I try to sleep. I don't mind sleeping amongst a bunch of stranger on a plane or at an airport because I know they have at least been screened for basic weapons. Sleeping on an interstate bus or at a bus station is very different. See below. The knife in that killing would have been detected at any airport by even the laziest of TSA screeners.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Tim_McLean

So by preventing people from taking drugs on planes you are preventing terrorism? You do realize some airports have explicit policies on not looking or caring about drugs? Eg https://www.flylax.com/lax-marijuana-policy

Also your example is from Canada where there is no TSA yet people don't do similar things on planes, it's not an ideal example.

>>Canada where there is no TSA

You really think that Canada doesn't have a TSA? They do. It is even called the CATSA, ie the CAnadian TSA. In fact, to comply pre-screening, CATSA is largely forced to mirror all US TSA rules. Literally the only difference between Canadian and American screening procedures is the colour of the uniforms.

https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/about-us

Wow, they managed to reproduce the effectiveness of the TSA and lack of oversight in an entirely different legal system? That's impressive... Who do you have to petition to get off of their no fly list?

It's a common law country (except for Quebec, apparently) with a heritage very similar to the US. Economically & militarily it's perpetually coupled to the US. Canada isn't much different except that central government has a stronger role.

Yeah problem with tasking the TSA with busting people for carrying small amounts of drugs is because drugs are common and weapons are rare, and terrorists even rarer all they'll do then is look for drugs.

TSA doesn't give a shit about drugs - """anecdotal evidence repeated to a degree that makes it real data""" suggests that they put drugs through their fancy MS machines, inspect them visually in secondary screening, etc. and allow them to pass through. Being a presentable looking person might have something to do with it.

'I know they have at least been screened for basic weapons.'

Bad assumption.

Flight crews, terminal restaurant workers and gift shop workers, and maintenance people who go through back gate get to avoid the theater. And even TSA walk around their own theater.

Who thinks bad people can't bribe or compel someone to carry a backpack around?

I agree completely about theater, but one note: I know a couple of people who have worked in airports (in food service), and all had to go through both a background check and normal security each day. I don’t believe for one moment that those measures are particularly effective, but airport service workers aren’t held to a different standard.

if they didnt bring their drugs kn the plane, the probably took them just before getting on, and are high by the time the airplane is taking off or once its at altitude.

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