I think when people say "get rid of the TSA", they really mean "get rid of all the security theater the TSA is responsible for". I don't think anyone means to say that there should be zero security checks on the path to board an airplane. Granted, before 9/11 (after which the TSA was created), airport security was handled by lots and lots of non-coordinating security companies, and standards were not uniform.
But IMO pre-9/11 airport screening was more or less just fine. The two biggest things that deter plane hijackings are 1) armored and (almost) always-locked cockpit door, and 2) the widespread understanding among passengers that if someone hijacks your plane, you should probably fight them, as there's a good chance the hijackers have suicidal intentions and you'll die regardless.
(And even if #2 fades away, #1 is still a pretty damn potent defense.)
Putting people through millimeter wave body scanners is unnecessary. Limiting (and requiring people remove and present) liquids is unnecessary. Removing large electronics is unnecessary. Removing a light jacket is unnecessary. Removing shoes is unnecessary.
Basically if we just made the TSA Pre Check screening process the standard for everyone (and dropped the liquid limits), we'd be fine.
Not to be a spoiler but in 2000 I was flying back from Las Vegas. In the airport terminal (after we passed security ) we decided to have lunch - steak lunch. I would not have realized myself, but one of our buddies made the comment :”these are real steak knives”. The rest of our lunch had many college-age jokes about kidnapping our upcoming flight :).
But IMO pre-9/11 airport screening was more or less just fine. The two biggest things that deter plane hijackings are 1) armored and (almost) always-locked cockpit door, and 2) the widespread understanding among passengers that if someone hijacks your plane, you should probably fight them, as there's a good chance the hijackers have suicidal intentions and you'll die regardless.
(And even if #2 fades away, #1 is still a pretty damn potent defense.)
Putting people through millimeter wave body scanners is unnecessary. Limiting (and requiring people remove and present) liquids is unnecessary. Removing large electronics is unnecessary. Removing a light jacket is unnecessary. Removing shoes is unnecessary.
Basically if we just made the TSA Pre Check screening process the standard for everyone (and dropped the liquid limits), we'd be fine.