[libertarianPA]

Great time to relax those TSA requirements, eh?

[Paloma_55]

Famous last words... "I have a bo..."

[jdm]

"The passenger's condition was not immediately disclosed."

He's toast.

[The_Victor]

The passenger's condition was not immediately disclosed.

Blam!

At worst he's just wounded.

[SJSAMPLE]

Great news!

Now, the next plane to violate the DC airspace ....

[truthkeeper]

He's dead, Jim.

[lovecraft]

"A passenger who claimed to have a bomb in a carry-on bag was shot by a federal air marshal"

And the Darwin Award second round draft pick goes to.....

[U S Army EOD]

If I was flying as a passenger, I wouldn't even claim I had a nerf stick in my baggage.

[msnimje]

The idea that a Marshall should not shoot a raging passenger because his traveling companion claims he is mentally ill is ridiculous.

[dynachrome]

See also:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1535844/posts

[Cautor]

I hope they killed the jerk.

[freedomson]

"Hold muh bomb."

[Blood of Tyrants]

Suicide by cop?

[Tenacious 1]

It is my understanding that these folks are, as a very important qualification for the job, very acurate with sidearms in confined spaces.

Me thinks that the marshal hit where he was aiming and the target did not survive the wound.

[colorado tanker]

Great time to relax those TSA requirements, eh?

Last time I checked bombs still weren't on the approved list.

[thoughtomator]

We still don't know whether there was actually a bomb in the bag, do we?

[bcsco]

Update: Fox News is reporting the man ran up the aisle of the plane claiming to have a bomb (he was on the plane coming from Columbia). A team of air marshals confronted him and he then placed his hand in his bag( another report has him turning on the air marshals); it was at that time they shot him. Conflicting reports state he may have been killed.

Further, another report from Fox News claims he was a 44 year old American, who's wife was on board. She has stated to local news (according to Fox) that he was mentally unstable, suffering from bipolar disorder, and had not taken his medications.

Whatever! Mental instability, or one's irresponsibility in not taking medications on time is no excuse for threatening behavior. Air marshals have a very narrow window to operate in, and must make decisions in 'real time'. Even had they heard his wife (or anyone) state he was mentally imbalanced, how do they know she is speaking the truth? They can only react to what they are confronted with.

However, if this guy indeed failed to take his meds on time - and his wife is accompanying him - what responsibility does she share in this situation? As a person who must take numerous medications daily to exist, I know that my wife would be insufferable should I pass a dose. My meds don't make me a danger to the public through disuse, but one would think in this case she could be held somewhat responsible for a person who could be considered a possible threat.

[FreedomCalls]

Great time to relax those TSA requirements, eh?

He threatened someone with a pair of scissors? I must have missed that part somewhere in the news coverage so far.

[HOTTIEBOY]

I think there should be a be sign at the front of every airport gate that say "If you say you have a bomb, you will be killed"

[HOTTIEBOY]

"If you say, whisper, twitch, cough, sputter, or otherwise give any indication that you have a bomb, you will be killed"

[GianniV]

No difference between this guy and Howard Dean. Both raving lunatics.