SIGforum
HPD officers armed with AR-15s at Houston airports
November 21, 2017, 10:12 PM
tatortoddHPD officers armed with AR-15s at Houston airports
The last time I saw long guns at Houston airports was when the national guard was providing security post 9/11. Are y'all seeing this in your airport? I'm not against officers armed with AR-15s at airports (quite the opposite), but my BS meter is going off that there is no specific threat.
quote:
HPD officers armed with AR-15s at Houston airports <<Video>>
HOUSTON - Houston Police are better armed than ever at both major airports.
Officers are packing semi-automatic rifles for the first time ever.
“The weapon itself is a carbine, AR-15,” said HPD Lt. David Acres. “It’s something we’ve been in discussion about for years and just decided this Thanksgiving to start implementing.”
The decision does not follow any specific threat. But it does come after a series of mass shootings in which similar weapons have been used.
“I mean, I know they’re trained with them and know how to use them,” said traveler Jamie Devine. “So, I feel even more safe if they’ve got an AR-15 on them.”
Travelers are already accustomed to long TSA lines and other security measures at airports. AR-15s may be just another layer that even those opposed to guns support.
“I don’t like guns,” said traveler Prheima Patel. “But there’s too much going on in the world and we do need security.”
According to HPD, the number of officers armed with AR-15s will vary. But they will patrol all areas of the airports, including parking garages.
“We’re just simply doing it to increase security here at the airport,” said Lt. Acres.
Any officer who’s armed with an AR-15 must be certified. That’s in addition to being trained on their regular service weapon.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer. November 21, 2017, 10:16 PM
sigfreundquote:
Originally posted by tatortodd:
my BS meter is going off that there is no specific threat.
I agree. Interesting development. I saw police officers with automatic weapons at European airports decades ago, and I always wondered since when we would see it here.
It took much longer than I expected.
► 6.0/94.0
To operate serious weapons in a serious manner. November 21, 2017, 10:19 PM
Balzé HalzéWell, anyone who's flown through Europe knows that officers with long guns is a very common sight. I'm all for it frankly.
~Alan
Acta Non Verba
NRA Life Member (Patron)
God, Family, Guns, Country
Men will fight and die to protect women... because women protect everything else. ~Andrew Klavan
November 21, 2017, 10:22 PM
Dallas239I've seen DFW airport police standing around with MP5s. But not real recently.
"I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here." -- Ronald Reagan, Farewell Address, Jan. 11, 1989
Si vis pacem para bellum
There are none so blind as those who refuse to see.
Feeding Trolls Since 1995 November 21, 2017, 10:22 PM
gw3971And when was the last time a specific threat was justified? In America we always wait for the casualties and then spend several years trying to blame someone. Why not an AR15 armed officer at the airport. Long hallways need to be covered by rifles not handguns. Good on them for playing good actors in the constant security theater.
November 21, 2017, 10:28 PM
12131Holiday traffic about to kick into high gear. Terrorism on the rise. That's why. Why such a big deal? They're not randomly stopping and frisking you.
Q
November 21, 2017, 10:45 PM
chongosuerteCharlotte airport has had this for over a year. It's the new norm.
Knowing what one is talking about is widely admired but not strictly required here.
Although sometimes distracting, there is often a certain entertainment value to this easy standard.
-JALLEN
"All I need is a WAR ON DRUGS reference and I got myself a police thread BINGO." -jljones
November 21, 2017, 11:01 PM
sigfreundquote:
Originally posted by chongosuerte:
It's the new norm.
Not everywhere by any means.
The display of heavy (heavier) weapons can still be a public relations issue in some jurisdictions. The more people see it, though, the easier it will be to implement it everywhere.
► 6.0/94.0
To operate serious weapons in a serious manner. November 21, 2017, 11:03 PM
RHINOWSOUnless they are shooting at you, who cares?
November 21, 2017, 11:11 PM
HCMJust saw his at Nashville Airport last week. It wasn't all the officers though.
November 21, 2017, 11:19 PM
KMitch200quote:
“I mean, I know they’re trained with them and know how to use them,” said traveler Jamie Devine. “So, I feel even more safe if they’ve got an AR-15 on them.”
This is what a lightbulb flickering on looks like.
--------
After the game, the King and the pawn go into the same box.
November 21, 2017, 11:36 PM
spunk639The Kid from Brooklyn had a better idea.
https://youtu.be/WCBIRcFlD-ENovember 21, 2017, 11:40 PM
GustoferWere their weapons loaded?
I flew into BWI about two weeks after 9/11. They had the Guard walking around the airport for security...with unloaded weapons.
________________________________________________________
"Great danger lies in the notion that we can reason with evil." Doug Patton.
November 21, 2017, 11:52 PM
Balzé Halzéquote:
Originally posted by Gustofer:
Were their weapons loaded?
I flew into BWI about two weeks after 9/11. They had the Guard walking around the airport for security...with unloaded weapons.
France was the same...soldiers walking around with no magazines in their rifles.
That is no longer the case today. Don't know about the officers in Houston though.
~Alan
Acta Non Verba
NRA Life Member (Patron)
God, Family, Guns, Country
Men will fight and die to protect women... because women protect everything else. ~Andrew Klavan
November 22, 2017, 12:45 AM
Excam_ManFor now, they are called "carbine AR-15".
November 22, 2017, 02:00 AM
XLTsaw some security officers at the Orlando airport carring them a few years back.
November 22, 2017, 02:46 AM
OldMickI think we were arriving or leaving LAX last year and while standing in the baggage claim area my wife tapped me and said, "Look. Those dudes are carrying ARs." She was referring to 4 LEOs of some sort, all armed with them."
(Pretty sure she used "dudes" because we were in the LA area.)
November 22, 2017, 04:29 AM
Elk HunterWhen I flew back here from Idaho a few weeks ago, I saw NO armed security at the Spokane airport.
They had about 30 TSA "agents", none armed on the odark30 shift.
Elk
There has never been an occasion where a people gave up their weapons in the interest of peace that didn't end in their massacre. (Louis L'Amour)
"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical. "
-Thomas Jefferson
"America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great." Alexis de Tocqueville
FBHO!!!
The Idaho Elk Hunter
November 22, 2017, 05:57 AM
parabellumIf something happened at that airport, some of you guys would be saying "Why weren't the police better armed?"
Seeing a police officer carrying a rifle in an airport these days, I wouldn't bat an eye, wouldn't feel the need to question the reason.
Perhaps we have some gun owners in this forum. They would understand better, I think.
____________________________________________________
"I am your retribution." - Donald Trump, speech at CPAC, March 4, 2023
November 22, 2017, 06:05 AM
Skins2881quote:
Originally posted by parabellum:
If something happened at that airport, some of you guys would be saying "Why weren't the police better armed?"
Seeing a police officer carrying a rifle in an airport these days, I wouldn't bat an eye, wouldn't feel the need to question the reason.
Perhaps we have some gun owners in this forum. They would understand better, I think.
I prefer for some to be armed always with AR. Since it's not always the case, I would bat an eye. I'd be wondering if they have some kind of Intel that raises threat level to warrant carrying extra firepower.
Jesse
Sic Semper Tyrannis