Last night I wrote about how LAX was shut down after reports of an active shooter surfaced. Passengers were evacuated, dozens of flights were diverted, and hundreds of flights were delayed.
Continue reading: What Caused LAX To Shut Down Last Night? The Airport Authority Explains
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
While I understand the hyper-vigilance these days, whether warranted or as a consequence of world events and the US' general love of hysteria, there exists technology that can detect gunshots, knows the difference between a gunshot and a car backfire, and can determine the direction from which they came. If an active shooter is really such a threat that airports are shut down regularly as a result of word-of-mouth and social media "reporting", why are we not investing in this technology?
I'd like to see how much revenue was lost/wasted for diverting flights based on the public - which is admittedly incredibly stupid in large groups - spreading false information. And how that compares to purchase/installation costs for a technology that's been around for a while now.
The Zorro guy very may well've been en-route to Dragon Con and decided to dress up to start the festivities early. Not too different from people donning beachwear and island-themed clothes en-route to Hawaii for vacation.
All's is well that ends well I guess....
I am curious as to what the deal with dressing with as Zorro is...proposing to his girlfriend/boyfriend?
Doing the Hollywood Blv freak thing and charging tourists for pictures?
I just read that the Zorro guy was an actor leaving a performance that ran late and rushing to catch a flight in costume.
#LA
There is a good article in the New Yorker this week written by a guy in JFK a couple of weeks ago. During that last false shooter alert. This stuff is scary. Crowd panic. That's what terrorism is. Real or imagined.
@Adam, there was a great piece about the gunshot hearing system on NPR recently. Its not quite as good as it's cracked up to be.
@Nick - That doesn't sound remotely plausible. Why would he bring the prop sword with him and not remove his mask? (Also, what production other than a high school play would use a plastic sword?)
@Adam - "why are we not investing in this technology?"
Probably because it costs too much $$, and no one wants to pay for it.
How has no one on the comment board even blinked at the statement from the airport that passengers were passing the security checkpoints without being checked? No wonder they had to empty the terminals, they had to sweep each one at that point. Regardless of mass hysteria TSA should have kept the checkpoints secure until credible evacuation protocols had been followed. But to have an incomplete set of information and to let the security of the terminal be compromised is inexcusable.
I say if someone's intention was to cause chaos and distraction, mission accomplished. Is no need for gunshots. ??????????
Who is the real terrorist? Zorro or the news media? The media has the people intentionally wound-up, which is causing people to over-react.