I think I have heard that mentioned. I would think that it would make sense to take the burden off the airlines but think that maybe they should still have to pay something for the service. Maybe the government could comp it so to speak innitially to assist the airlines to restrengthen but eventually, once things more approach normal and a system can be put in place, the airlines could pay similar to what they do now, to the government, and the government could use that money to pay directly to US Marshals or I think I heard someone suggest Coast Guard to provide the security. I have been to airports where security was good but then to others where it was very laxed. McCarran has seemd to be pretty good. I know someone who has had Carry on scanned for explosives on several different trips. There is always an abundance of security present. At O'Hare, last June, I had my bags stopped for a stopwatch and some rolls of quarters. Guess it looked like a bomb or something. The security guard was very alert and rather hyper about it. I am frequently having photo and video equipment and computer etc. searched at O'Hare. Their MDs have even been set off by the grommets in my shoes or fillings in my teeth(?) . There is an airport where I have never been stopped. I won't mention where that is as it might not be smart. Besides, I would assume they are a bit tougher now. With the system as it is the security is very inconsistant. Some contractors are good and provide good protection and others are horrible. What do we expect when some of these companies only pay $6 an hour. If the government took it over with Marshals or Coast Guard things would be more consistant accross the country and we might be safer.

I don't know how it would go over in this country but my brother, who has traveled in Europe, had the comment that he was startled with the pressence over there of guards with machine guns. He said that they will patrol in pairs and are always vigilant to anything that is not right. I wonder how the American public would react if we had Marshals holding M-16s patroling all the terminals and around the outside of the planes. From watching the news about missing ground crew IDs that would seem to be a priority for some security. Maybe we need armed guards watching and patroling the ramps and tarmacs.