Fort Lauderdale

Local Leaders Schedule Roundtable Meeting to Discuss Gun Safety at Airports

Local leaders, include Rep. Debbie Wassermann Schultz, will meet with agencies such as the FBI and TSA in an effort to make sure another mass shooting like the one inside Fort Lauderdale / Hollywood International Airport this past January doesn't happen again.

A roundtable discussion will take place Friday to discuss new rules for when travelers go to pick up a checked bag with a firearm inside.

First, a special tag alerts ground handlers not to put the baggage on the carousel for a regular pickup. Instead, sources tell NBC 6 the bag must go directly to a bag service agent who performs an ID check on the passenger - and then use zip ties to secure the bag.

Some aviation experts suggest adding a police officer at the pickup location would add another level of security.

“Now there's a police presence there when there's a weapon that's checked and the police officer can monitor the weapon leave the building satisfactorily,” said aviation consultant Scott Patterson.

Since the airport shooting that killed five people, Wassermann Schultz has been looking for ways to better protect travelers. Sources told NBC 6 that Delta Airlines has already made a change when it comes to checking firearms.

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