The travelers - all with concealed gun licenses

[MikeInTX]

Growing number of travelers busted with handguns at Love Field.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Growing- ... 08965.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[couzin]

I thought you meant Irish Travelers...

[Mike1951]

I thought you meant Irish Travelers...

Same here!

[pbwalker]

Growing number of travelers busted with handguns at Love Field.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Growing- ... 08965.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe it's me, but I can't understand how someone could do this. With as much time as I used to spend on the road for work, I had a routine, and disarming was part of that routine. All I think, when I read that, is "You moron!"

[sjfcontrol]

I'm betting most of these were "off-body" carry, purses, brief cases, bags, etc.

(And for some reason, I thought of Travelers Insurance)

[The Annoyed Man]

I'm betting most of these were "off-body" carry, purses, brief cases, bags, etc.

(And for some reason, I thought of Travelers Insurance)

They were exactly that. I watched that news report last night on TV, and it was all guns being carried in carry-on luggage. The TSA representative they interviewed said that the explanation offered universally by those apprehended was, "I forgot that my gun was in there."

They pointed out an interesting statistic. Last year, there was one traveler busted at Love Field, and 15 busted at DFW. This year, there have been 15 at Love, and 16 at DFW. The difference at DFW doesn't seem that significant to me, and it seems to say that people have been traveling with guns for a while. The uptick from 15 to 16 could be a statistical anomaly, or it could indicate a mild upward trend as more and more people become CHLs or carry under MPA while traveling in Texas. But the difference at Love is startling. Since the subset of people who carry guns under CHL and MPA in Texas has likely not suddenly increased by a factor of 15 in one year, it can only mean that they have had terrible enforcement prior to this year. One wonders what else got onto flights at Love Field prior to this year.

[jimlongley]

I'm betting most of these were "off-body" carry, purses, brief cases, bags, etc.

(And for some reason, I thought of Travelers Insurance)

They were exactly that. I watched that news report last night on TV, and it was all guns being carried in carry-on luggage. The TSA representative they interviewed said that the explanation offered universally by those apprehended was, "I forgot that my gun was in there."

They pointed out an interesting statistic. Last year, there was one traveler busted at Love Field, and 15 busted at DFW. This year, there have been 15 at Love, and 16 at DFW. The difference at DFW doesn't seem that significant to me, and it seems to say that people have been traveling with guns for a while. The uptick from 15 to 16 could be a statistical anomaly, or it could indicate a mild upward trend as more and more people become CHLs or carry under MPA while traveling in Texas. But the difference at Love is startling. Since the subset of people who carry guns under CHL and MPA in Texas has likely not suddenly increased by a factor of 15 in one year, it can only mean that they have had terrible enforcement prior to this year. One wonders what else got onto flights at Love Field prior to this year.

I spent more than three years with TSA at Love Field, except when I was assigned to "test" other airports, and the 15 surprises me too, but so does the claim of one. Based on my experience, I would have expected the number for Love to be 10 to 12 per year, and DFW close to triple that. Also, based on that experience, I would expect Love to catch a factor of 10 higher numbers of "I forgot . . ." than DFW.

I can't think of one incident in the whole time I was with TSA where someone attempted to pass through security with a gun on their body. I have, however, seen people get right up to the WTMD and as they check their pockets, suddenly turn pale and say they forgot something and turn around and leave. I hate to tell you how many knives get caught on a daily basis.

[Dragonfighter]

I spent more than three years with TSA at Love Field, except when I was assigned to "test" other airports, and the 15 surprises me too, but so does the claim of one. Based on my experience, I would have expected the number for Love to be 10 to 12 per year, and DFW close to triple that. Also, based on that experience, I would expect Love to catch a factor of 10 higher numbers of "I forgot . . ." than DFW.

I can't think of one incident in the whole time I was with TSA where someone attempted to pass through security with a gun on their body. I have, however, seen people get right up to the WTMD and as they check their pockets, suddenly turn pale and say they forgot something and turn around and leave. I hate to tell you how many knives get caught on a daily basis.

Jim,

What do you think the possibility is that the statistic is those being discovered versus how many have been mistakenly carried all along? I figure you'd have as good a feel for it as any one of us.

[jimlongley]

I spent more than three years with TSA at Love Field, except when I was assigned to "test" other airports, and the 15 surprises me too, but so does the claim of one. Based on my experience, I would have expected the number for Love to be 10 to 12 per year, and DFW close to triple that. Also, based on that experience, I would expect Love to catch a factor of 10 higher numbers of "I forgot . . ." than DFW.

I can't think of one incident in the whole time I was with TSA where someone attempted to pass through security with a gun on their body. I have, however, seen people get right up to the WTMD and as they check their pockets, suddenly turn pale and say they forgot something and turn around and leave. I hate to tell you how many knives get caught on a daily basis.

Jim,

What do you think the possibility is that the statistic is those being discovered versus how many have been mistakenly carried all along? I figure you'd have as good a feel for it as any one of us.

Again, based on my personal experience, I would have expected the number of discoveries to be higher.

[Lonest4r]

Sadly, my wife's friend has a fiancé that contributed to this statistic. Bye bye Ruger LCP and at least a couple thousand in legal fees. I still have not heard whether he lost his CHL.

[C-dub]

I would chalk this up to just pain being irresponsible, but as soon as did I would probably do something similar. However, I have not flown anywhere in the last ten years where my CHL was honored. I prefer to drive whenever possible and even then most of my travel is to places that do honor my CHL, which is even better. The only place with family that I do visit that does not is Illinois, but we drive and just disarm in MO before crossing the river. Funny thing about this is that we will go out shooting on their property/farm without any problems from local LE.

[sjfcontrol]

It actually a bit surprising that they really get caught, given TSA's test results.

[gringo pistolero]

It actually a bit surprising that they really get caught, given TSA's test results.

I was going to agree but then I realized we don't know how many didn't get caught. Twice as many? Ten times as many?

[JALLEN]

I haven't forgotten to declare a pistol properly but the one time I flew without a pistol I neglected to remove 3 loaded magazines from my carry on, which oddly enough went through just fine at San Diego, but got picked up at San Antonio. Had I been taking a pistol, I would have taken the pistol, the magazines, and the ammo and packed it all the way it is supposed to be, but since I wasn't taking a pistol this trip, just a quick over and back to visit my mom, no excursions into public etc., I never gave it a thought until the TSA fellow at the SA airport found the magazines, loaded with 30 rounds, called the cops etc.

I thought I would be led away, handcuffed, perp-walked in disgrace but it didn't get to that point. I had the right IDs, and am obviously a dignified, well groomed, law-abiding and charming good citizen of many decades standing, and my story checked out. The TSA fellow even took me over to the gift store to buy a small pistol case which would hold the magazines and ammo, then got the airline to retrieve my checked bags so I could put the case in one. I didn't even miss my flight. I chalked that reasonable handling of the situation up to being in Texas where things are friendlier, or used to be anyway if you aren't causing any trouble.

Some weeks later I got a letter from the FAA inviting me to make a statement. I did so, having learned as a pilot you can always bewilder the FAA by telling the truth, then later got another letter saying the whole matter could be disposed of for a few hundred dollar payment. I'm free to sin no more, probably on the terrorist list still but that was the end of it.

[jimlongley]

I haven't forgotten to declare a pistol properly but the one time I flew without a pistol I neglected to remove 3 loaded magazines from my carry on, which oddly enough went through just fine at San Diego, but got picked up at San Antonio. Had I been taking a pistol, I would have taken the pistol, the magazines, and the ammo and packed it all the way it is supposed to be, but since I wasn't taking a pistol this trip, just a quick over and back to visit my mom, no excursions into public etc., I never gave it a thought until the TSA fellow at the SA airport found the magazines, loaded with 30 rounds, called the cops etc.

I thought I would be led away, handcuffed, perp-walked in disgrace but it didn't get to that point. I had the right IDs, and am obviously a dignified, well groomed, law-abiding and charming good citizen of many decades standing, and my story checked out. The TSA fellow even took me over to the gift store to buy a small pistol case which would hold the magazines and ammo, then got the airline to retrieve my checked bags so I could put the case in one. I didn't even miss my flight. I chalked that reasonable handling of the situation up to being in Texas where things are friendlier, or used to be anyway if you aren't causing any trouble.

Some weeks later I got a letter from the FAA inviting me to make a statement. I did so, having learned as a pilot you can always bewilder the FAA by telling the truth, then later got another letter saying the whole matter could be disposed of for a few hundred dollar payment. I'm free to sin no more, probably on the terrorist list still but that was the end of it.

As the licensee for NY Telephone back in the day, I learned the same thing about the FCC.

I tried, in vain, to get the gift shop at Love Field to carry small gun cases for just such situations. We always had to send our more or less innocent travelers down to the Dallas Gun Range or a nearby pawn shop to get one.