TexasCHLforum.com

First of all, you wouldn't be on this site if you were not at least partly computer literate, so I would recommend that you go to TSAs web site and make copies of their own published rules and regs, and take them along the next time you travel.

http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?conte ... &print=yes

I would also recommend that you check into the CFR relating to traveling with firearms, that's the Code of Federal Regulations for those of you who are not Chas. 49 CFR 1544.203 relates to carriage of firearms by the airline, and 49 CFR 175.10

http://www.washingtonwatchdog.org/docum ... index.html

http://www.toptonfga.org/Info/TSA_Advis ... rearms.htm

Unfortunately the SOPs are considered to be proprietary information so I can't quote them directly. Suffice it to say that screeners are NOT supposed to handle firearms.

BTW, one of the best screeners I ever worked with left Dallas a few months ago, and now works at Billings, his home town.

If it was truly at the beginning of the program the screener in question might have still been an employee of a private security firm, and some of those guys made up their own rules. The roll out of TSA was kind of slow for small airports and some were not converted until mid 2003.

Some of the private security types that we picked up, after they were laid off due to losing the airport contracts, have been very good, but more often than not they seem to be stuck in the old job. The best screeners, in my not so humble opinion (partly because I am a member of the subset) have tended to be the ex-engineers who understand the technology and used to have good careers which makes them motivated to do a good job and keep doing it.

One of TSA's problems, which I think I have stated before in different words, is that they tried to hit the ground fully functional, and they hired "experienced" managers and supervisors (usually ex-private security from the companies that were being displaced) and these people have been slow to appreciate the level of brain power operating beneath them.

dws1117 wrote:According to jimlongley:

Handling a firearm, no matter what your competence level, is punishable by a three day suspension, FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE.

Sounds like the guns shouldn't have been handled.

'S'truth, and I have seen it happen at the airport where I work. TSA screeners are absolutely forbidden to handle firearms, no matter what their level of expertise. It's part of our Standard Operating Procedures.

Now if you want to see an honest and critical assessment of TSA screening a gun, all you have to do is ask me.

I went down to San Antonio to take the Customs and Border Patrol test (which I passed with flying colors, and they offered me a position as a Customs Inspector WHILE I WAS OUT IN DISABILITY FROM TSA!!!) and a friend of mine suggested that I shoot in their IDPA match down there the evening before the test.

So off I went to San 'tone with my .45 carefully and properly packed per all of the rules that I enforce every day. No problem going there, I was flying through the airport that I work in and everyone took great delight in teasing me, including shrink wrapping my checked bag with about 100 yards of stuff. (I was wise to that one and packed my sharp knife in an outside pocket that I would be able to get to easily.)

I got down there late, so I missed the match, but went to the range and met some guys and shot a little informally.

The next day, after the test, I packed the gun up the same way I had on the trip down, went to the ticket agent and declared it, and then the fun started.

TSA ran my bag through the machine, and from where I was standing I could see the operators' station and screen, a violation of TSA protocols. I could see that the machine was set in the wrong mode (don't ask, the short form is that it makes it MORE sensitive and it will alarm on a pack of gum) and said so to the operator. Of course the machine alarmed on my 1911, which it wouldn't have done if it was set correctly, and didn't at my home airport.

So they now had to do a manual search of my bag, specifically targeting the gun. Of course when the ticket agent had finished with me I had followed the rules and locked the box, so now I had to unlock it, so I had to be present and observe the next step.

The screener, actually a LEAD screener, who HAS to know better, handled my gun - way against the rules. And then she swabbed my gun, recently fired and uncleaned since, with an explosive trace detection swab, WHICH DID NOT ALARM even with all that gun shot residue.

I felt perfectly safe when I left Dallas, but I had some doubts when I left San 'tone. If I had had the time I would have filed a face to face complaint with supervision, but being able to catch an earlier flight was more important to me, so I had to settle for a written one instead, that I have never had an answer to.

Synopsis:

The xray should not have alarmed on my gun, if it was in the right mode.

The explosive trace detector should have alarmed on the GSR, and I don't know why it didn't but have some educated guesses.

Handling a firearm, no matter what your competence level, is punishable by a three day suspension, FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE.

I know that at my airport we do the very best we can, but I can't speak for the others.

Found two knives today.

And all the passenger did was declare his gun unloaded and show the ticket agent. The ticket agent didn't look in the rest of the box, which happened to contain prohibited items.

Been there, done that, more times than I care to count.

The thing that is scanning the gun, in its locked case, resembles a CAT scan machine in function, it's taking multiple xray slices and the computer and operator are checking those slices for items recognizeable as prohibited. So last hunting season we had a guy who tried to include, in the bottom of his gun case, out of sight of the ticket agent who is just concerned with the gun, a can of fire starter for his hunting camp, and a box of strike anywhere matches.

It's not so much the gun that's being looked for or at, but other stuff. We see guns go through every day, including some that were probably not declared. It's not our job to enforce that rule, so unless we can tell that the gun is loaded, actually amazingly easy to do, guns in checked bags get passed unless they alarm the system.

So make your stink, Stevie, but you will have no effect.

I have to find a real job.