Posted on 12/25/2003 5:51:22 AM PST by COBOL2Java
December 23, 2003
Harrisburg , Pennsylvania
Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, Inc.
by E. C. Haskell, Executive Director of External Relations
David and Patti McIntyre have served as missionaries with ABWE since 1995. David is a missionary pastor. He and Patti and their three children were returning home from Brazil this past Sunday and Monday. David was temporarily detained at the Miami airport after a routine x-ray revealed a razor blade and a hacksaw blade in his shoe.
This was an unfortunate incident resulting from an oversight on Mr. McIntyre’s part, and we certainly understand the concern at this time of heightened national security. Thankfully, this is one of the good examples that shows our homeland security efforts are succeeding in detecting potentially harmful objects. However, we want to assure everyone that our missionary was not a threat to anyone.
Due to the high number of kidnappings in the city where he lived a year ago, David had designed his own personal emergency survival kit to help him escape in the event he was kidnapped. David had concealed in his shoe a razor blade, a piece of hack saw blade, a phone card and some Brazilian currency. Later, he and his family relocated to a safer area and he had not worn these shoes in the past year. Unfortunately, in the rush to pack he simply forgot about the tiny survival kit concealed in the shoes he wore onto the plane.
We have the utmost respect for David, whom we know to be a compassionate Christian man of high moral character. His reason for going to Brazil as a missionary pastor was to share the love of Jesus Christ, the gospel, and hope for hurting people.
We have confidence in David’s explanation, which has been accepted as credible by authorities who released him within a few hours. We understand that no federal charges have been brought and we hope that local charges will also eventually be dropped.
David is embarrassed by this incident and has expressed regret that his oversight may have caused undue anxiety during the heightened security of this Christmas season.
The Pastor was packin.
Considering the kidnapping of the missionaries in the Phillipines last year (the husband was killed) I find it a credible explanation. Especially since it was also with a phone card and Brazilian money.It's a very credible explanation, considering where he was.
-Eric
I have twice carried weapons into airports accidentally. I too live in a foreign city where I could be attacked, so usually have gas and a fighting knife. One time I wore a jacket that had my knife in it, and had the good fortune to notice it before boarding ( I gave it to someone to carry out for me!). Another time I had gas in my pocket, and ditched it in a rest-room garbage can inside the boarding lounge!!
Most recently, I flew with a Swiss Army knife in my travel pouch and didn't notice until I was in London. I managed to fly all the way to New York via Heathrow - going through metal detectors three times - and did not have to throw away my Victorinox knife.
I have no intention of attacking anyone on an airplane except a terrorist should one try anything...
I can fully understand how this can happen.
Fine the hell out of the guy for not thinking.
I know many people will think this guy is a real dummy at the least. Having met some missionaries over the course of my life, I find that while they are highly educated and articulate in their religious fields, many of them are personally naive, unsophisticated, and too trusting in the ways of the real world.
I think this particular dedicted Christian man showed some real smarts in preparing for any eventuality happening to him in possibly dangerous situations. If he was a Freeper and had been kidnapped by insurgents or thugs, we'd be congratulating him on having foresight and using his brains as well as his shoe.
Yes, it would be easy for him to forget about the shoe. Everyone has memory lapses. Did you ever have paper money in a pocket go through the washing machine (as a simplistic corollary)?
His self-defense gambit turned into a cause celebre, but I think he deserves a little charity such as he shows to his fellow man through his work.
Leni
He kinda just forgot about carrying a razor blade and a hacksaw blade in his shoe? You mean he couldn't feel a hacksaw blade in his shoe?
This was his survival kit? I can think of much better things to put in a survival kit
I don't think the guy was gonna do anything. I think he is grossly out of touch with reality. The law will probably come down pretty hard on him.
Anybody who goes into an airport with anything resembling a weapon concealed on their person is either a terrorist or probably too stupid to even suck oxygen.
Just damn.If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
Unfortunately phrased.
I had to do that myself last year at BWI Airport. I was on my way back to Florida after visiting my brother for Christmas, and just as I stepped into the screening line, I checked my pocket and found my Leatherman tool, sitting right there in its accustomed place. I had meant to stick it in my suitcase before checking it in, but forgot. I ended up having to dump the thing in a trash can in the men's room before getting screened.
I took that to mean he may still be facing charges.
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