Tough airport security is serious safety effort

The biggest threat from terrorists remains attacks from the air, and while efforts are being made to improve and beef up security at the nation's airports, reports of lax practices at security gates of some airports are disturbing.

The addition of armed, National Guard troops at airports until security forces are built up and better trained will serve as a deterrent, but unless every passenger and his or her luggage are thoroughly searched for weapons, the threat remains.

The federal government is moving swiftly to improve airport security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but it is so important that those who check passengers at security gates do so thoroughly.

They are, after all, a major component in the line of attack against terrorists.