ALCORN SAYS FREEDOM NOT SECOND TO SECURITY

Freedom of movement shouldn't take a back seat to security, says a Washington, D.C., airport official.

The official, Dan Alcorn -- who grew up in Ellsinore in Southeast Missouri -- is vice chairman of the board for the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority, which runs Dulles International and Washington National airports.

Alcorn had hoped to run as an independent candidate for the 8th District congressional seat, but failed to secure enough signatures of registered voters to get on the November ballot.

Alcorn said Monday that airports can't go overboard on security even in the aftermath of the July 17 explosion of TWA Flight 800, believed to be from a bomb. The explosion killed all 230 aboard.

"There is a balance you have to reach in terms of security," he said.

"We can't slow down the movement of people," he said. "If you don't move people, then the airlines won't make money because they make money on volume."

Washington's two airports handle 75,000 people a day.

"When you move that many, you can't body search everybody," Alcorn said.

President Clinton has ordered tighter security at the nation's airports, including stepped-up screening of carry-on baggage.

Alcorn said airports need new equipment to better screen luggage.

Even then, no security system is infallible.

"You are never going to have a perfectly secure system so I really think it is important to investigate and run down the perpetrators."

The nation needs to do a better job of shutting down the operations of extremist groups, he said.

Alcorn said the airlines and not airport police are responsible for screening passengers and their luggage.

Airlines routinely contract that work to private security companies, he said.

"You can do everything reasonable to make it safer and certainly go after the people who do these things and close them down, but one thing you can't do is take away the freedom of the American people."

Alcorn said people in the airport industry had been worried about possible terrorism after the bombing in Saudi Arabia. With the Olympics taking place in Atlanta, there was added concern about terrorism.

"Prior to the TWA bombing, within the airport community, we knew that it was a difficult time," Alcorn said.