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]

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.

Corpse, I'll ask you once to zip that shit. I am a gun owner, carry a professional concealed permit as well. I'm all for concealed carry. The key here is WHO IS CARRYING THE DAMN GUN. I have respect for my fellow citizens enough to trust them to carry a weapon. However, what seems clear to me, and I cannot believe you don't grasp, is that the ENTIRE scenario behind armed civlians living together safely turns to open war when one of the people with the guns just wants to kill everything he can.

You may have a point that 9/11 wouldn't have happened. However, in your scenario, you would simply have tons of aircraft either landing with dead people, falling out of the air, or the complete and utter collapse of all air travel. Take your pick.

[Shryke]

Are you also someone who believes everyone should be able to carry on an aircraft?

[TalonDJ]

Did I say let everyone have guns? Nah, do background check or let only permit holders bring them. Now how would the terrorist have them? Oh yeah, they would get them past the screener just like the can do today. Did I say I would only fight if I had a gun? I guess I am a wimp when I reach for a hammer to use on a nail. After all, a real man would use his bare hands. How is wanting the right tool for the job cowardice? Have I ever given the impression I would not go after an armed terrorist bare handed? Why are you insulting my honor? Did I insult you? Not unless that 'fears an armed populace' hit a little too close to home. Well I guess your plan is fine. After all it did work on 9/11 and it stops school shootings everywhere. Hey, it ain't broke don't fix it right?

[Barlowmaker]

Never, ever, ever, ever, ever fly.

Unless you don't want to live life hiding in a bunker.

[Knitebane]

The problem, of course, is the failure mode.

If you ban all weapons onboard an airplane all it takes is one mistake and there is no backup.

And how do you define a weapon? Firearms? Ok. Knives? Sure. Knitting needles? Laptop bags? Retractible key rings? First you need to realize that there are no dangerous objects, only dangerous people. Then realize the futility of trying to take things away to make everyone safe.

So either we strip seach all passengers, do body cavity searches, x-ray everyone and have them fly naked or sooner or later someone bad is going to smuggle a weapon onboard. And when they do, there won't be anyone there capable of stopping them.

The other option is to convince the Federal Government that the Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution means that a concealed carry permit in one state is good everywhere, including onboard an airplane.

Firearms favor the armed over the unarmed. Disarming people is not the answer.

[relictele]

TSA Spokeswoman Yolanda Clark!?!?!

Three guesses....

[TalonDJ]

How about letting only permit holders carry on board? Or adding letting the general flying public apply for carry privileges?

[FreedomPoster]

Pretty substantial. A couple of bullet holes in the fuselage are unlikely to take a modern airliner out of the sky.

[TalonDJ]

I also have a carry permit. No, I don't think they should hand out guns on the boarding ramp which seems to be the situation you describe.

[FreedomPoster]

You watch too many movies.

[Poohbah]

The problem, of course, is the failure mode.

That's why the pilot and copilot are armed, but remain in the cockpit.

If you ban all weapons onboard an airplane all it takes is one mistake and there is no backup.

Then you do an El Al screening protocol.

And how do you define a weapon?

Ranged weapons are banned. I don't give a damn about weapons that reach no further than one's arm.

So either we strip seach all passengers, do body cavity searches, x-ray everyone and have them fly naked or sooner or later someone bad is going to smuggle a weapon onboard.

Then that's what we do.

The other option is to convince the Federal Government that the Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution means that a concealed carry permit in one state is good everywhere, including onboard an airplane.

Problem: terrorists will then get (by hook or crook) concealed carry licenses, and seek martyrdom.

[Poohbah]

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.

Yeah, they use plastic dummies, not real guns.

[TalonDJ]

There are just two places you can shoot that will make the plane probably fall out of the sky. Can you guess? Yeah, the pilot and to co-pilot. But that can be done with a knife also.

[TalonDJ]

As long as their ar armed law abiding people on the same plane then the terrorist would do no more destruction than he could do at a restaurant or truck stop.

[TalonDJ]

Yeah I am sure they make them out of jello too because that would be the best simulation of a gun.

[Poohbah]

Did I say let everyone have guns?

Effectively, yes.

Nah, do background check or let only permit holders bring them. Now how would the terrorist have them?

By getting a concealed carry permit--or forging one.

Did I say I would only fight if I had a gun?

You made it clear that you're unable to fight effectively without one.

Have I ever given the impression I would not go after an armed terrorist bare handed?

Yes.

Why are you insulting my honor?

Because you questioned it first.

Did I insult you?

Just my intelligence.

Not unless that 'fears an armed populace' hit a little too close to home.

And now you've really insulted me.

The prosecution smugly rests.

Well I guess your plan is fine. After all it did work on 9/11

How many guns were used on 9/11?

and it stops school shootings everywhere.

Actually, it doesn't, and that's an entirely separate issue. When someone on the ground jumps onto a plane cruising at 30,000 feet and shoots up the plane, I'll take your moronic analogy a wee bit more seriously.

Hey, it ain't broke don't fix it right?

The screening protocol's a joke. That needs to be fixed.

[Modok]

There is a saying that "action beats reaction." I believe that holds true almost all the time. If someone is pointing a gun at you at close range, and you have a suitable weapon in hand, they are yours. Unfortunatly, the the opposite is also true.

[Servant of the 9]

I wonder how many per month get missed ...

A couple of weeks ago a friend arived by plane, cross country and then found a knife in the bottom of her purse. She had missed it when she neutered her purse for air travel.
The screeners had no clue.

It is so normal for guns, speedloaders, extra mags to be in my computer case, brief case, coat pocket, that it's a wonder I haven't screwed up yet.

So9

[Poohbah]

Yeah I am sure they make them out of jello too because that would be the best simulation of a gun.

Nope. They make 'em out of plastic, in case terrorists ever bring plastic guns aboard. (No, I am not making this up.) And one guy who tests screeners said that making the dummy gun out of metal would "make it too easy to find."

Your FAA and TSA at work...

[Servant of the 9]

Let's say everyone was allowed to bring firearms on the plane. Two terrorists also bring ther guns on the plane, with the intent of crashing the plane. Terrorists brandish weapons, citizens respond, gunfight ensues. What do you think the odds are of that plane continuing to fly?

Extremely high.
Look back at the news stories about the first transports flying into Baghdad during thte war.
Bringing down a modern transport aircraft with smallarms is very very difficult.

SO9