BOSTON -- A Bay State lawmaker said national security officials could learn a lot from the college student who allegedly smuggled box cutters aboard several Southwest Airlines flights.

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Amalia Barreda Reports On Markey Comments

NewsCenter 5's Amalia Barreda reported that Rep. Edward Markey said Tuesday that the Transportation Safety Administration has much to learn from Nathaniel Heatwole, 20, a college student who now faces federal charges for allegedly carrying concealed weapons including box cutters aboard two Southwest Airlines planes.

"This young man blew a whistle so that tomorrow, no one can blow up an airplane in the United States," said Markey.

Claiming he was committing civil disobedience to expose weaknesses in aviation safety, Heatwole has said he sent the TSA an e-mail detailing what he had done. But the items were not discovered for five weeks.

"He has pointed out a very serious security deficiency. He e-mailed the TSA and said he had put box cutters on planes. And for more than a month, they did not respond to that warning even though he left his phone number with them. So this is, without question, very troubling, " said Markey.

The government has called Heatwole's actions foolish and dangerous, not a public service. But Markey called him a well-intentioned college student and should be sentenced to work 20 hours a week for the TSA.

"The Bush administration can't, on the one hand, say that this young man committed a very serious crime and then at the same time say that they didn't respond to the e-mail at the Department of Homeland Security because it wasn't an imminent threat," said Markey. "They can't have it both ways. Either the young man did something that was very serious, or he didn't."

Markey also chastised the agency for cutting 6,000 baggage screeners and for continuing to support the loading of cargo aboard passenger planes without physical screening or inspection.

Markey said the agency has also failed to complete background checks on many of its own employees and has hired convicted criminals.