Deterrent? You would think death is a deterrent, and yet most terrorists aren't deterred by the prospective of death, what makes you think some overpaid government employee with far below average IQ is a deterrent for someone who is willing to die for his cause. For god sakes, most TSA people aren't even permitted to carry guns. You know why? Because they would shoot each other by accident, while taking a piss.

The only people TSA deters is honest an law abiding citizens from flying as often as they would otherwise.