Another Airline (flying) observation...

[stevie_d_64]

Since the new norm is set in place...A recent discussion about printing out documentation, along with following Federal and airline policies regarding the "safe" storage and transportation of firearms on trips requiring flying on airlines...

This thought/observation/comment came to me...

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Something I have noticed, and have yet to really make a stink about...But why is it important to "scan" (through a detector) an encased firearm, that is not going to be in immediate posession of its owner in the cabin of the aircraft???

All this after the fact that it has been "examined" by ticket counter personnel (who state more often than not, that they don't know what they are looking at anyway)...But the TSA steps in and runs it through the detector anyway...

I mean I just sit back and kinda chuckle at the absurdity of it all...

What do ya'll think???

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What do ya'll think???

[Baytown]

Agreed. It's moronic.

Glenn

[anygunanywhere]

The Licensed(although not necessary in all instances) individual states "I have unloaded handgun(s)".

X-ray, often visual inspection. Totally absurd, while Achmed sneaks who knows what on board.

When I am on-d-plane I scan everyone as they board. Looking for who is a threat and who is a friend.

Like I read somewhere...Be polite but have a plan to kill everyone you meet. Airline and now train and bus travel are serious.

[jimlongley]

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.

[stevie_d_64]

Airline and now train and bus travel are serious.

You know it'll happen when the next attack occurs...

[isa268]

i'v only flown once with a "firearm" and that was a T/C Omega "falling block" muzzle loader. when i had to "show clear" for the TSA agent, i dont think she knew what she was looking at. i explaned its a "muzzle loader" and then droped the block to show that there was no primer. she said "ok" and i locked it up.

[stevie_d_64]

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

I hear you...

I save my stinks for things that really matter...I just think all of this is a procedural quirk that just makes me wonder about the "system"...

Thats all...

[jimlongley]

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.

[Baytown]

Flew out of Billings and I had my P7 w/me. I had a box of ammo, and an empty one. I did not feel like unloading my mags so I put them in my lock box. The gun was unloaded.

I got into the secured area and got paged to return to the ticket counter. I got back and there was a TSA supervisor who said we had a problem.

He told me I had declared my firearm unloaded, but there were bullets in the magazines. I was horrified. Had I forgotten and put a mag back in??

No. He told me it was "loaded" because I had ammo in the mag. No big deal and he was pretty nice about it.

The worst ever was in Augusta, GA. Long story. Overall, my experiences with TSA have been positive.

Glenn

[gigag04]

The worst ever was in Augusta, GA. Long story.

do tell!

[dws1117]

Yes, please tell. We have time. :D

[gigag04]

Yes, please tell. We have time. :D

I sure do. Work is waaaay boring today. I guess thats good, it means all the comptuers are working and I can do stuff like.....this.

[dws1117]

You say this like its a bad thing.

[gigag04]

this real time posting leads me to believe we should have a chat feature on the site!

[tehlump]

I flew out of Bush Intl to Orlando FL about 3 months ago. When I got to FL, I realized I had left my leatherman multitool in my laptop bag. The knife went through the security point with no problems and flew with me on the plane. Normally I'm pretty careful about putting my carry knife in my checked luggage, but I completely forgot about the multitool, I carry it in my laptop bag for it's handiness.

I guess someone was asleep at the xray machine that day. The funny thing is that I threw away a brand new lighter trying to comply with the silly rules.