[DanUCSB]

It's a tough question. There are very few privileges in this country that are less common and harder to get than the privilege of carrying a firearm on an airplane. This is why part of me does think, 'hey, it's a sport coat, deal with it'. I have heard nothing good come out of the FAM program, but I have heard of numerous instances where marshals have left their pistols in luggage racks, on toilets, and other assorted slip-ups. I can't say that wearing a sport coat inspires discipline per se, but if you're not disciplined enough to keep within the uniform required of your position, I have little respect for you.

However. In the world of the Federal Air Marshals, perhaps no news is good news: just as I have yet to hear anything good come from them, I have also not heard of any flights getting hijacked recently in this country. That can be construed as complimenting their effectiveness, or not; you can't prove a negative. Although I believe you'd be hard-pressed to find any flight, anywhere in the country, that does not have at least several men in suits/sport coats aboard, I do see the merit of the argument that hell, let 'em wear whatever they want so long as it makes them more effective.