Fireworks - 20 fireworks – some without labels
– were discovered in a checked bag at Norfolk (ORF) resulting in a 50 minute
closure of the checked baggage area.
Items
in the Strangest Places
–It’s important to check your bags prior to traveling. If a prohibited item is
discovered in your bag, you could be cited and possibly arrested by local law
enforcement. Here are a few examples from this week where prohibited items were
found in strange places.
- A knife was found concealed in a metal food container (with food) at Sacramento (SMF).
- A multi-tool with a knife was detected attached to the handle of the carry-on bag at Denver (DEN).
- A sword cane was discovered at Kahului (OGG).
What
Not to Say at an Airport – Statements
like these not only delay the people who said them but can also inconvenience
many other passengers if the checkpoint or terminal has to be evacuated:
- When asked if he had any dangerous items in his bag, a Los Angeles (LAX) passenger stated “I have a bomb.” He then grabbed his boarding pass and walked away. The police stopped him. This resulted in a 16 minute closure of the ticketing area.
Stun Guns – Five stun guns were discovered this
week in a carry-on bags around the nation: Baltimore (BWI), Sacramento (SMF),
Peoria (PIA), Kahului (OGG), Los Angeles (LAX)
Miscellaneous
Prohibited Items - In
addition to all of the other prohibited items we find weekly, our Officers also
regularly find firearm components, realistic replica firearms, bb and pellet
guns, Airsoft guns, brass knuckles, ammunition, batons, and a lot of sharp
pointy things -- to mention a few…
Firearms
- Here are pictures of
some of the firearms our Officers found in carry-on baggage since I posted last
Friday. See a complete list below.
You
can travel with your firearms in checked baggage, but they must first be
declared to the airline. You
can go here for more details on how to properly travel with your firearms.
Firearm possession laws vary by state and locality. Travelers should
familiarize themselves with state and local firearm laws for each point of
travel prior to departure.
Unfortunately
these sorts of occurrences are all too frequent which is why we talk about
these finds. Sure, it’s great to share the things that our officers are
finding, but at the same time, each time we find a dangerous item, the
throughput is slowed down and a passenger that likely had no ill intent ends up
with a citation or in some cases is even arrested. This is a friendly reminder
to please leave these items at home. Just because we find a prohibited item on
an individual does not mean they had bad intentions, that's for the law
enforcement officer to decide. In many cases, people simply forgot they had
these items.
If
you have a travel related issue or question that needs an immediate answer, you
can contact us by clicking here.
29 comments:
Some of those guns are absolutely fabulous!
Some of those guns are absolutely fabulous!
Austin seems roblematic when it comes to transporting weapons . Since we are talking flights does this mean the perps are taking these weapons across state lines. I sure hope that is not allowed.
You know, I just don't get it - how many guns were discovered his week? 20? 30? My suggestion is for the TSA to post a BIG sign in each aisle leading to a TSA screeners' station that says "NO GUNS!" and a PICTURE of a gun. After many years of not traveling at all, I am now traveling more and more on business. Without exception, the TSA screeners I meet are as polite, courteous, professional and pleasant as can be as they assist me through a tedious procedure. All I have to do is to remember when I pack my carry-on luggage and check my pockets before entering an airport is to remove my fingernail clippers and pocket knife from my pockets and my technician's multi-tool from my belt and place those items in a secure pocket of my checked luggage. Done, no problem, and I'm onto my flight. Thanks, TSA!
So Bob, why did the TSA harass a poor twelve year old in a wheelchair, then call in a bomb specialist? Then without explanation let her go?
Really, does the TSA have no common sense whatsoever?
Thanks for your continuing efforts to make little girls cry, TSA. http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/20341065/tsa-claims-sick-girl-tests-positive-for-bomb-residue#ixzz2F1vlt4qM
Plus one traumatized 12-year-old girl in Dallas.
Good job, guys!
[Screenshot taken]
Bob, what do you do with all the guns you confiscate!
Tat asked, "what do you do with all the guns you confiscate?"
As near as I can tell, they shoot up hotel rooms.
http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/tsa-agents-fired-gun-hotel-ruckus-police-say-592222
I assume each of these were found on a dangerous wheelchair bound preteen?
Tat asked…
[[Bob, what do you do with all the guns you confiscate!]]
We don’t “confiscate” firearms. We are not even allowed to handle them. We call LEO’s who deal with the weapons according to their procedures.
How many terrorists have you captured at the airports since the creation of the TSA?
Let me state this another way, how may people have been prosecuted for terrorism because of an arrest made at an airport after the suspect was captured by TSA screening?
I mean, I suppose keeping people off planes who are too stupid to leave their gun at home is a good thing but were any of these people terrorists? Or where they just forgetful?
This log of items captured is not that interesting to me and is not, IMHO, worth putting up with the loss of privacy associated with TSA check points.
How many terrorists have you captured at the airports since the creation of the TSA?
Let me state this another way, how may people have been prosecuted for terrorism because of an arrest made at an airport after the suspect was captured by TSA screening?
I mean, I suppose keeping people off planes who are too stupid to leave their gun at home is a good thing but were any of these people terrorists? Or where they just forgetful?
This log of items captured is not that interesting to me and is not, IMHO, worth putting up with the loss of privacy associated with TSA check points.
TSORon said...
We don’t “confiscate” firearms. We are not even allowed to handle them.
That's wise, considering stuff like this:
http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/tsa-agents-fired-gun-hotel-ruckus-police-say-592222
We call LEO’s who deal with the weapons according to their procedures.
Hmm. Considering the LEOs are sworn to follow the constitution, which says "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed", that means they let the gun owners go through, right?
Or does the TSA stop them?
Anonymous said...
How many terrorists have you captured at the airports since the creation of the TSA?
A better question is how many 12 year old girls in wheel chairs have they made cry.
And is the former worth the latter?
None of these "catches" was using a full body scanner. Why do we need them again?
"How many terrorists have you captured at the airports since the creation of the TSA?"
Zero.
"Let me state this another way, how may people have been prosecuted for terrorism because of an arrest made at an airport after the suspect was captured by TSA screening?"
Zero.
But you'll never get Curtis to admit that. Right, Curtis?
Oh TSA, I love reading about your continuous failures. It really does put a smile on my face.
Thanks, folks at the TSA, for valiantly defending our country and its citizens despite a tiny vocal minority of those citizens making unappreciative, derogatory comments on this web site. I fought in Vietnam, and sometimes I have to deal with that hopefully-tiny minority of jerks on the highways who think nothing of speed limits and courtesy. And I think quietly to myself, "Yeah---like the TSA---I've fought for you too and would do so again."
TSA has finally apologized tothe 11 year old girl in a wheelchair that they made cry:
“We regret that the experience of this young lady was not a positive one as we always strive to screen passengers with dignity and respect while ensuring the safety of all travelers. Everything TSA does is designed to protect against another terrorist attack. In all likelihood, this traveler would have presented no risk, yet we could take no chances. She alarmed for explosive residue and TSA took the necessary steps to resolve the alarm.”
Lets look at this point by point:
"We regret that the experience of this young lady was not a positive one"
- talk about non-apologetic apologies! This ranks right up there with "I'm sorry you're so dumb".
"we always strive to screen passengers with dignity and respect"
-while you're touching my "resistance"?
"Everything TSA does is designed to protect against another terrorist attack."
And thank goodness the TSA stopped this, the latest string of terrorist attacks by wheel-chair bound little girls!!!
In all likelihood, this traveler would have presented no risk
Which raises the question of why you are botherign at all with "no risk" passengers. Why not screen the "high risk" ones, and leave the rest of us alone?
"She alarmed for explosive residue and TSA took the necessary steps to resolve the alarm."
TSA's "necessary steps":
1) use technology that falsely alarms for no good reason
2) separate a little girl from her mother
3) call a bomb expert
3) release the girl with absolutely no explanation as to what happened or why
And you guys wonder why we hate you??????
Anonymous said...
"Thanks, folks at the TSA, for valiantly defending our country and its citizens despite a tiny vocal minority of those citizens making unappreciative, derogatory comments on this web site. I fought in Vietnam, and sometimes I have to deal with that hopefully-tiny minority of jerks on the highways who think nothing of speed limits and courtesy. And I think quietly to myself, "Yeah---like the TSA---I've fought for you too and would do so again."
December 17, 2012 2:10 PM
Anonymous,
If you did actually serve in Vietnam with honor, thank-you for your service.
Associating people critical of the TSA with discourteous or speeding vehicle drivers is non sequitur. I drive very courteously and do not speed, but think the TSA violates the Constitution that you say you fought to protect.
Another Anonymous poster quipped…
[[Hmm. Considering the LEOs are sworn to follow the constitution, which says "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed", that means they let the gun owners go through, right?
Or does the TSA stop them?]]
The Constitution of the United States is not the only law in our land. LEO’s are also sworn to uphold those laws and to detain offenders. TSA on the other hand will not allow a non-LEO passenger to bring a firearm into the sterile area. In our country there are “prohibited places” where firearms owners cannot bring their guns, no matter the local laws. The sterile area of an airport is one of those places. Responsible firearms owners knows this.
TSORon said...
"The Constitution of the United States is not the only law in our land."
No, but it is the law of our land. No other law in our land may violate the principles enshrined within.
TSORon said...
The Constitution of the United States is not the only law in our land.
But it is the HIGHEST law of our land. Which means it overrules all others.
In our country there are “prohibited places” where firearms owners cannot bring their guns
So, according to you, the Constitution isn't worth the paper it's written on. No wonder you guys don't bother obeying the 4th Amendment.
TSORon said...
"We don’t “confiscate” firearms."
"All have been confiscated from travelers screened at TSA checkpoints," Lisa Farbstein, TSA spokeswoman at the airport, said Thursday afternoon.
Does it really matter who "confiscates" an item? End result is that the traveler no longer has an item that belongs to them.
Anonymous said...
"You know, I just don't get it - how many guns were discovered his week? 20? 30? My suggestion is for the TSA to post a BIG sign in each aisle leading to a TSA screeners' station that says "NO GUNS!" and a PICTURE of a gun."
I was just reading an article about the number of TSA employees arrested for attempting to bring weapons of their own into the "sterile" area, so apparently TSA needs to look at your proposed sign as well.
"TSA on the other hand will not allow a non-LEO passenger to bring a firearm into the sterile area. In our country there are “prohibited places” where firearms owners cannot bring their guns, no matter the local laws. The sterile area of an airport is one of those places. Responsible firearms owners knows this. "
Really, Ron? When I was at DEN last week, there were several police officers that had weapons with them. There were also a couple FFDOs as well. So, weapons *are* allowed in the sterile area, aren't they?
As far as your understanding of the Constitution is concerned, please tell us again how there's no right to travel on airplanes! That's my favorite fiction of yours.
Wintermute quoted me saying…
"The Constitution of the United States is not the only law in our land."
No, but it is the law of our land. No other law in our land may violate the principles enshrined within.
And Anonymous replied…
[[But it is the HIGHEST law of our land. Which means it overrules all others.
In our country there are “prohibited places” where firearms owners cannot bring their guns
So, according to you, the Constitution isn't worth the paper it's written on. No wonder you guys don't bother obeying the 4th Amendment.]]
If you read the constitution you might note an area where it assigns responsibility to the United States Supreme Court to interpret the meaning of the document for the general populace and what laws passed by the federal and state governments are within the confines of the Constitution. It mentions nothing about the average Anonymous or Wintermute having that authority. And according to the various rulings from our highest court in the land, the general populace cannot have guns in certain places, and administrative searches are allowed under certain circumstances.
So basically the concepts enshrined in the Constitution of the United States are far more complex than your rather simplistic views. And while I have no idea which of the many “Anonymous” posters you might be, I do know that Wintermute is more aware of the complexity of the subject than he presents here.
Anonymous said...
[["TSA on the other hand will not allow a non-LEO passenger to bring a firearm into the sterile area. In our country there are “prohibited places” where firearms owners cannot bring their guns, no matter the local laws. The sterile area of an airport is one of those places. Responsible firearms owners knows this. "
Really, Ron? When I was at DEN last week, there were several police officers that had weapons with them. There were also a couple FFDOs as well. So, weapons *are* allowed in the sterile area, aren't they?
As far as your understanding of the Constitution is concerned, please tell us again how there's no right to travel on airplanes! That's my favorite fiction of yours. ]]
Wow Anon, maybe you should have actually read what you quoted. It might help in the credibility area if you did.
TSORon said...
Wintermute quoted me saying…
"The Constitution of the United States is not the only law in our land."
No, but it is the law of our land. No other law in our land may violate the principles enshrined within.
"It mentions nothing about the average Anonymous or Wintermute having that authority."
Show me where I claimed otherwise.
"...and administrative searches are allowed under certain circumstances. "
Agreed. However, what the TSA does runs afoul of these rulings. Even ones you've cited in the past do not rule exactly how you claim they do.
"So basically the concepts enshrined in the Constitution of the United States are far more complex than your rather simplistic views."
Insult much?
"I do know that Wintermute is more aware of the complexity of the subject than he presents here."
While it's not impossible to figure that out by my various online writings, I'm curious as to how, exactly, you'd know this? Need to know if I should attempt to grab an old URL back that I let go, or if you're just throwing a backhanded complement my way in an attempt to keep my from calling out the insult above ;)
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