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Citing a gun-smuggling ring that was busted last month, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) today called for mandatory daily federal screening of all airline and airport workers.
"To think that all airline employees are not screened each day is mind boggling," Schumer told reporters in a press conference at the U.S. Capitol, where he was joined by Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson. "In this day and age of terrorism, rampant drug dealing and gun smuggling, we just can't be too careful," Schumer added.
Schumer said he will ask the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to make it mandatory that baggage workers, cleaning crew and anybody who works for an airport or the airlines - not just pilots and flight crews, who are currently screened - to be screened every day when they arrive for work.
Both Schumer and Thompson referenced the gun-smuggling ring in New York and Atlanta that was broken up by law enforcement last month, resulting in the arrests of five people, including a Delta baggage handler, and the seizure of 153 weapons. They were charged with with illegally shipping firearms between the two cities on passenger jets.
"The ease by which airport employees are able to smuggle weapons and other contraband onto our commercial airliners is troubling and warrants immediate scrutiny and inspection," Thompson said.
"Why would you screen a pilot or flight attendant, but not somebody who loads luggage or cleans a plane is beyond me," Schumer said.
The TSA did not respond to inquiries as it likely contemplates the obvious question of logistics and how such a plan would be paid for.
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