Airport screeners find 75 guns per month

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | November 25, 2004 | Audrey Hudson

[neverdem]

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The Washington Times
www.washingtontimes.com

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Airport screeners find 75 guns per month

By Audrey Hudson
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published November 25, 2004

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Traveling for the holidays? Have everything you need? Razor? Toothbrush? Handgun? Ammunition?

    Homeland Security officials say that even now, three years after the September 11 terrorist attacks prompted new security measures at airports, passengers continue to show up at the terminals carrying guns and bullets.

    Airport screeners find 2,000 bullets and 75 guns per month on passengers or in carry-on bags, said Mark Hatfield, spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). At 450 airports across the country, an average of two guns per day are discovered.

    "The numbers are going up," Mr. Hatfield said.

    Nearly every case is accidental -- hunters forget to take ammo out of coat pockets and sportsmen forget to take guns out of bags after target practice or a trip to the skeet range, he said.

    A 79-year-old woman was arrested Tuesday at Fort Lauderdale International Airport in Florida after a single-shot Colt Derringer and seven bullets were found in her tote bag.

    The woman said she had placed the gun in a hollowed-out book in the bag months ago and had forgotten about it. She faces a penalty of up to five years in prison.

    "That underscores the importance of the need to screen everyone," TSA spokeswoman Yolanda Clark said. "This continues to be a significant problem at checkpoints across the country."

    The National Rifle Association (NRA) is teaming up with the TSA on a public service campaign to remind its members to include guns and bullets in last-minute...

[Shryke]

Make an aircraft a too pricey target to take

Pricey? How can it be "pricey"? If the terrorist wants to die, with as many people as possible, what is the price? He's locked in a flying room with civilians!

[Shryke]

What are you talking about?

[Poohbah]

Pricey? How can it be "pricey"? If the terrorist wants to die, with as many people as possible, what is the price? He's locked in a flying room with civilians!

He's trying to apply a rational cost-benefit analysis to people who are fundamentally irrational...

[Shryke]

I dont know what you are talking about either I am afraid. Choose a terorist?

[jimthewiz]

Yes, the 737 "convertible."

LOL...Boeing never advertized that model.

[Dead Corpse]

Please read S.L.A. Marshall's Men Against Fire and rebut the facts contained therein.

No. Comparing all out military warfare to civilian defensive actions against criminals/terrorists is apples and oranges and you damn well know it. Check out CCW holder stats and competition shooting results for a better determination of what the general public is capable of.

If you would prefer to tuck your tail between your legs and run away, that is your problem. Don't strip us of our tools and tell us it is for our own good.

[Shryke]

Pretty good if they use frangible ammo.

So, you are suggesting that, although allowing any firearm is fine, the FTA guys should make sure that all the bullets brought onboard are FRANGIBLE??? Do you happen to see how easily circumvented that would be?

[TalonDJ]

So what? As the other posters pointed out the bullets are unlikely to harm the plane significantly.

[Walkin Man]

No, I don't think all airline passengers should be armed. I just wanted to show that there is ammo that can be fired inside of enclosed places that will not penetrate walls.

[Dead Corpse]

Too "pricey" as in not making their target of turning the aircraft in to a missile.

Disarming us of our penknives is stupid when shoelaces and headphone cords make perfect garrots. When a pen or penicl can be shoved into an artery or an eye socket.

The crying, whimpering pansies have disarmed us all and made us not one whit safer. If another 9-11 happens again, it is their FEAR that will have kept those who could have done "something" to prevent it from being able to do so.

The same kind of logic you and Poobah are using right now are the same kind of debunked bullhockey that Sarah Brady's ilk have been trying to use for decades to restrict firearms carry. On buses, public places, ect...

Good going ace. How about you try fighting on our side for a change?

[TalonDJ]

Who draws first only matters if they are pointing their guns AT YOU. In a crowd they will be waving their weapons around and will never see you draw unless you are a moron. So yeah, the good guy will get the drop on them, even if he draws second.

[Poohbah]

No. Comparing all out military warfare to civilian defensive actions against criminals/terrorists is apples and oranges and you damn well know it. Check out CCW holder stats and competition shooting results for a better determination of what the general public is capable of.

Multiparticipant gunfights take on more of the character of the former than the latter.

If you would prefer to tuck your tail between your legs and run away, that is your problem. Don't strip us of our tools and tell us it is for our own good.

If you are so cowardly or feeble that you cannot fight without a gun, then you are worthless.

[TalonDJ]

If you are so cowardly or feeble that you cannot fight without a gun, then you are worthless.

If the heroes that went down that day in PA had guns then they would have lived... I would gladly stand up and fight. How does wanting the means to do so effectively make us cowards? The only cowards are those that fear and armed populace.

[Poohbah]

Who draws first only matters if they are pointing their guns AT YOU.

I'd love to do a live-fire test of your thesis.

In a crowd they will be waving their weapons around and will never see you draw unless you are a moron.

In other words, you admit that you're doomed. (c8

They shout "HANDS ON YOUR HEADS!" They see you do anything but put your hands on your head, they shoot you. That's real easy. Also note that the terrorists will be working as a team.

So yeah, the good guy will get the drop on them, even if he draws second.

Hell, if the terrorist's as big an idiot as you are, you may technically get the drop on the one in front of you...but the one two rows behind put a bullet in your brain when your hand moves.

[Dead Corpse]

Take on more character? Now, you are stretching things a bit. Walking into a FEBA is in NO WAY comparible to Youssef and Abdul trying to rush the cockpit.

If you are so cowardly and feeble as to not trust your fellow passangers with the most expedient means to end said conflict and defend themselves, then I suggest you stay in your nursing home and let the nurse whipe drool from your chin. You certainly wouldn't be good for much else.

[Shryke]

I'm glad sopmeone else here recognizes the inherent disaster involved in a gunfight situation ON BOARD AN AIRCRAFT WITH TERRORISTS. Outdrawing and hitting a terrorist with a gun out. Laughable at best. Wonder how tough these guys would be if their kids were in between them and the bad guy? Or a nun?

[Poohbah]

If the heroes that went down that day in PA had guns then they would have lived...

No, they would've died, because the bad guys would've been carrying guns, too.

They would've been shot the second they started their move.

I would gladly stand up and fight.

But only if you have your gun...which makes you a coward.

How does wanting the means to do so effectively make us cowards?

Because you think that's the only way you're effective.

The only cowards are those that fear and armed populace.

There are a very few places where unlimited carry is a bad idea. An airplane cabin is one of them.

Hell, I don't even want the COPS carrying guns in the passenger cabin!

[monday]

"She faces a penalty of up to five years in prison."

Ah.... our fearless defenders send a 79 year old lady to prison for 5 years for forgetting about a gun in her bag, but still refuse to search Arabs for fear they will be accused of racial profiling. Typical.

[neverdem]

I noticed you just signed up yesterday. Welcome to FreeRepublic.com

Good luck in all your future endeavors!

[TalonDJ]

Well the article establishes statistically that people can get on planes with guns. Oh, do you think they spotted them all? I read a statistic awhile back that something like 40% of the dummy guns they test they screeners with get past them. I guess we better all stop flying then, since apparently only macho morons would try to fight back and those would just make it worse. Yeah, might as well all surender now and make it less painful. Maybe they will saw off our heads with the sharpe sword and not the rusty one. That would be nice. Did I ever say an shoot out with terrist on a plane would be all clean and nice? No, it just beats the alternative.