Arrested missionary: Blades found in shoe were for safety

AP ^ | Dec 23, 2003

[george wythe]

A missionary arrested for trying to pass through airport security with a razor blade and a hacksaw blade in his shoe said he carried the blades while living in Brazil because he had received several threats on his life.

David McIntyre, who was arrested Monday at the Miami International Airport and charged with carrying a concealed weapon, said he forgot the blades were there.

McIntyre, 38, of West Chester, Pa., had been living in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, working with the Harrisburg, Pa.-based Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. He was heading to Philadelphia with his wife and three children for a year's furlough, and had passed through screeners in Belo Horizonte and Sao Paulo before the blades tripped alarms in Miami.

McIntyre, who was freed on bond Monday, said he last wore the shoes about a year ago. At the time, he said his was living in a dangerous neighborhood and receiving death threats related to his job.

[george wythe]

continued

"Put yourself in the trunk of a car: You're tied up. How are you going to get out?" McIntyre said. "So I put a razor blade in a shoe because I was getting specific threats on my life and safety there, and I thought it was a reasonable precaution."

The death threats stopped after he and his family moved, and the man making the threats left his church. McIntyre said he forgot about the shoes after putting them in his closet, but found them again after his wife packed all of his good shoes, and he needed another pair to wear on the trip. He said he had taken other precautions to account for airport security, such as packing the scissors he uses to cut his goatee in his checked bag.

Miami-Dade police said Tuesday that they believe McIntyre's story is credible, pointing out that he was only charged with a misdemeanor and federal officials weren't involved.

"The FBI could have come in and taken the case," said Sgt. Pete Andreu. "Since that didn't occur ... that would lead you to believe we felt less of a threat than if circumstances were different

[george wythe]

David McIntyre

[recalcitrant]

right.
now we have our first "Terrorist" christian fundamentalist..

roflmao

the law of unintended consequences in action? or something more insidious?

[Enterprise]

Well, his shoes probably set off metal detectors. A search would be justified here. However, the explanation is not unreasonable. I think in light of the circumstances, the charge should be dismissed.

[joesnuffy]

Actually what he says makes perfect sense...given the kidnapings...

[John H K]

People on the original thread speculating he was a Muslim convert sure will be disappointed.....

[StoneColdTaxHater]

Honestly, would any terrorist be so stupid as to try using the old box cutter trick again. An ass kicking would ensue.

[evad]

Just out of curiosity, what terror could he wreak with a hacksaw blade and razor blade?

[george wythe]

He has certainly provided a way out for other "missionaries" with blades in their shoes.

All they have to do is to claim that they were afraid for their safety in the World World hellhole from where they flew.

Let's see how the jury decides this case if it goes that far.

[Trust but Verify]

People on the original thread speculating he was a Muslim convert sure will be disappointed.....

Not necessarily.

[george wythe]

World World=Third World

[cinFLA]

Actually what he says makes perfect sense...given the kidnapings...

No problem with that however I still have a problem with the fact that MOST people would have felt the blades in the shoes???????

[zeebee]

I never thought it would be possible to explain this one away but apparently this fellow has.

[Walkin Man]

To heck with a hacksaw blade for protection!

How about a 45 auto in the checked luggage?

Its legal and stops the bad guys a whole lot better!

[george wythe]

Just out of curiosity, what terror could he wreak with a hacksaw blade and razor blade?

IMHO, I think the law is an ass in this particular case.

As other posters have indicated, post-9-11, the next time anyone tries to intimidate airplane passengers using a razor blade, he will get the living lights beaten out of him.

[al baby]

"So I put a razor blade in a shoe


That reminds me of the new male contraceptive you put a pebble in his shoe

It makes him limp!!!

[The KG9 Kid]

This tool can witness to prisoners in Federal lockup now... where it is even more dangerous than the Third World. Nice going dunce.

[george wythe]

Yesterday's thread

[John Beresford Tipton]

" what terror could he wreak with a hacksaw blade and razor blade?"

He just might be able to cut a Christmas fruitcake?