This is one of the rare instances where I completely agree with Mr Owens. Hats off to you, sir, for taking what is a very unpopular view.
The deceased didn't have a bomb. Logical thought leads a rational person to conclude that it was highly unlikely that he had a bomb. Very unlikely. So unlikely that defending his summary execution on the grounds that "he might have had a real bomb" makes those who say it sound downright silly.
Despite the popular notion that the TSA screeners are bumbling oafs who couldn't get hired by a police department and prefer the higher TSA pay to that of mall cop, the reality is that if he had brought a bomb to the checkpoint, the bumbling oaf screeners probably would have found it.
How do I know? The absence of exploding airplanes in the USA over the past several years. No bombs. Since September 11, 2001, almost 3 Billion USA passengers, and no exploding airplanes. Think of the odds, Americans. Or at least THINK.
Another indicator is that he was obviously mentally unbalanced. History shows us that real bombers don't usually act like such lunatics prior to detonation. Not in London. Not in Madrid. Not in Israel. Not in Iraq. Real bombers simply detonate their bombs. Hysterical theatrics are not a hallmark of real bomb-toting terrorists.
Statistically, the guy was just as likely to be able to flap his arms and fly to MCO all by himself as have a real bomb. Everyone knows that. But still we cling to a childish notion that everyone who says the word "bomb" in an airport is to be taken at face value and even executed by a sky marshal if the marshal deems it necessary. Or severely punished (like the dolts who joke about bombs at the checkpoint "Hang 'em High," say many people. "He joked about a bomb. Lock him away forever").
"He got what's comin' to him" say some.
"Brought it on himself" say others.
Others ask, "What if he really had a bomb?" Well, he'd flown from Ecuador to MIA without detonating it. He passed thru CBP without detonating it. He then made his way thru the terminal to D42 without detonating it. And even when he was chased by sky marshals with guns drawn on the airplane during boarding, he still didn't detonate it. Yeah - he might have had a bomb. Sure. And he might have been Elvis. 🙄
Seriously - you almost have to believe in fairy tales and Santa Claus to seriously believe there was a snowball's chance in hell that he actually had a bomb.
Better safe than sorry - the new motto of the Sheople.