Anti-tank weapon seized from passenger’s baggage at Texas airport

NY Post ^ | January 17, 2023 | MaryAnn Martinez

[BenLurkin]

A bazooka-like weapon powerful enough to take down a military tank was seized from a passenger’s checked baggage in Texas because the traveler had failed to declare the weapon to authorities, the Transportation Security Administration said.

The firearm is similar to an M3 Carl Gustaf and can be legally owned in the Lone Star State, although it requires an extensive background check.

The TSA does allow guns on planes, but only if they are in checked bags. Any traveler with a firearm must also declare it to the airline when their luggage is handed over, TSA explained. Weapons must also be unloaded and in a hard-sided, secured case.

[MeganC]

Exactly. But too many ignoramuses in law enforcement are unable to distinguish between a bullet (safe), a shell (safe), and a cartridge (not safe).

Expecting law enforcement not to wet their panties at the sight of this inert tube or anything that looks like it is too much to ask.

[antidemoncrat]

Hey, you can never tell when you might encounter a rogue tank when you’re airborne.

[Billthedrill]

He should have kept it on him and told them it was his Emotional Support Bazooka. They let me keep mine.

[Gay State Conservative]

Every time I go through airport security with an anti-tank weapon in my pocket the beepers go off. It's very frustrating.

[GaryCrow]

As others mentioned, that's just the launcher tube and is NOT a weapon. If the ordnance was included then it would be, but without the projectiles it's just a tube.

Also, there is no such thing as an "84mm caliber". It's either 84mm or XXX caliber, it can't be both. The fact that the TSA put out that tweet with a glaring error like that in it shows that they have no idea what they're doing.

[llevrok]

Is that a shoulder fired missile in your pocket or are you glad to see me?

[chajin]

I once suggested to our pastor that the acolytes be each assigned a bazooka, so that during the processional they could simply aim and fire from the back; that way the congregation could experience the power of the Spirit. The pastor allowed me to remain an elder anyway.

[TLI]

“We don’t see that caliber of weapon very often, thank god,” Mancha added.

And you still haven't Patricia.

Once again everyone is depending on the stupidity of the average American.

.

[Who is John Galt?]

In naval artillery parlance caliber is barrel length measured by the multiple of the projectile diameter. For example the USS New Jersey has 16 inch, 50 caliber cannons, meaning the barrels are 50X16 inches.

Yes, I figured the small arms usage was appropriate for this article, but am also familiar with the other use you mention. It's associated in part with some trivia - if I remember correctly, one of the 15 inch, 42 caliber guns on HMS Warspite hit the Italian battleship Julius Caesar at a range of 28,500 yards, which may still stand as a record for conventional naval artillery in combat...

;>)

[IndispensableDestiny]

The tube is not an NFA weapon. The individual rockets would be. This is just silly drama.

It's a Recoilless Rifle that is loaded and reloaded with ammunition. That makes it as much a firearm as a pistol without cartridges.

I don't know how ATF would classify it, DD or AOW.

[Joe 6-pack]

"A bazooka-like weapon powerful enough to take down a military tank..."

Civilian tanks stand no chance.

[TLI]

Hey Patricia,

Hope you never find one of there in some luggage, it might destroy the airport...

.

[fireman15]

My wife and I have a friend... we call him Larry the Bomb guy... He has a huge and beautiful collection of “restored” bombs and rockets. Of course, all of his “bombs” have been completely disabled with no explosive left in the bombs or the detonators. People including law enforcement freak out when he drives around with a trailer full of bombs. I have a case that once held a French made Nord Aviation SS.10 guide by wire missile system. I keep meaning to get it to him. They were used in Vietnam launched from helicopters and troops on the ground. They were the precursor to the TOW missile system.

[SgtHooper]

Agreed! And there is NO WAY it would cause a panic if he pulled it out in the airport.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Ouch. They’re ought a be a LAW against bad puns.
I’ve Gustav get a better device. Can we serve it between two PIAT bread slices?

[Fido969]

I guess that’s the issue. If you had an unloaded rifle, that would certainly qualify as a firearm, even if there was no ammo with it.

An unload AT tube would fall under the same rule.

[GingisK]

Well, you know as well as I the stupidity level of most people, especially TSA employees.

[5th MEB]

Many years ago I had a young acquaintance who thought he was a real Rambo, unfortunately he couldn’t tell the difference between a 38 and a 50 cal.

He was also a real IDIOT.

He got a job with TSA at LAX!