CITY DEMANDS AIRPORT SECURITY REVIEW.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer Alarmed that a woman was able to bring a gun into a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport “LAX” redirects here. For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation). “KLAX” redirects here. For other uses, see KLAX (disambiguation). Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX last week, the City Council demanded a review Wednesday aimed at improving security. Asked to explain, Airport Department officials told the council that the woman walked through a security checkpoint staffed by contract workers who were unarmed and lacked the training and authority to arrest someone carrying a firearm firearm, device consisting essentially of a straight tube to propel shot, shell, or bullets by the explosion of gunpowder. Although the Chinese discovered gunpowder as early as the 9th cent., they did not develop firearms until the mid-14th cent. into the airport. Instead, the private security workers can push an alarm button to summon TO SUMMON, practice. The act by which a defendant is notified by a competent officer, that an action has been instituted against him, and that he is required to answer to it at a time and place named. armed airport police officers, said Phil Depoian, a deputy director for the Airport Department. ``Your presentation is not reassuring,'' Councilwoman Rita Walters Rita Walters (1930-) is currently the commissioner of the Los Angeles Public Library. Prior to this position, she served on the Los Angeles City Council representing the 9th district. During that time, she chaired the Arts, Health & Humanities Committee. told Depoian and Acting Airport Police Chief John Bangs. ``We all should be angry that the weapon got through the system,'' added Councilman Nate Holden Nathaniel "Nate" R. Holden (1929-) served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1987 to 2002. He previously served a term on the California State Senate and was Assistant Chief Deputy to then Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. , turning to airport officials. ``Put the security in place, and make it foolproof.'' On Thursday, a Long Beach woman put some luggage through an X-ray detector which showed the presence of a handgun. Before security workers could stop her, she grabbed the bag with the gun and went into the terminal. A massive search was launched, causing evacuation of the terminal and three airplanes and delaying 35 flights for three hours. Meanwhile, the woman left the airport, took the gun to her home and then returned to the airport, where she was detained de·tain tr.v. de·tained, de·tain·ing, de·tains 1. To keep from proceeding; delay or retard. 2. To keep in custody or temporary confinement: . Bangs told the council that his officers responded well when told that a woman with a gun had entered the terminal. Councilwoman Ruth Galanter Ruth Galanter was a city councilwoman from Los Angeles. She served as President Pro-Tempore and President of the city council. , whose district includes the airport, said she was concerned by reports that the woman was allowed to get through the checkpoint because a security guard who spotted the gun had to confer with Verb 1. confer with - get or ask advice from; "Consult your local broker"; "They had to consult before arriving at a decision" consult ask, enquire, inquire - inquire about; "I asked about their special today"; "He had to ask directions several times" a supervisor about what to do. Depoian said he plans to meet today with representatives of the airlines, which are responsible for hiring the workers who operate security checkpoints. He said he will report back to the council on talks about upgrading security, including the suggestion by council members that the checkpoints be operated by armed officers with arrest power. ``I think it would probably make the airport more secure,'' Bangs agreed, noting that armed officers were once assigned to the security checkpoints but were removed for budget reasons. |
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