Posted on 04/04/2002 6:50:19 AM PST by SLB
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - (AP) -- Three passengers in their 70s were arrested and later released in separate incidents at Palm Beach International Airport for allegedly trying to board flights while carrying knives.
Security screeners found the knives in carry-on luggage during routine checks early Wednesday, airport sheriff's deputies said.
Authorities charged each traveler with carrying a concealed weapon, a first-degree misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to a year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine. The FBI declined to press federal charges.
According to sheriff's records, Harold Shepard, 71, of New York, told deputies he was not carrying knives. Officers said they arrested Shepard after finding a knife with a 7 ½-inch blade in a box that was taped shut. He was later released from jail on $250 bond.
In the other incidents, Elizabeth Napleton, 76, of Illinois, and Stanley Reinhart, 79, of California, were issued notices to appear in court and allowed to board their flights. Authorities did not release their hometowns.
Napleton told deputies that she had meant to check the briefcase containing the knives, but later decided to bring it on the plane, authorities said.
Reinhart was stopped while carrying a steak knife with a 5-inch blade packed in his shaving kit, authorities said. Reinhart said he had just driven across the country and had kept the knife to cut his food while he was staying in hotels.
Federal Aviation Agency 800 Independence Avenue S.W. Washington D.C. 20591
Dear Sirs;
I have the solution for the prevention of hijackings, and at the same time getting our airline industry back on its feet.
Since men of the Muslim religion are not allowed to look at naked women we should replace all of our female flight attendants with strippers.
Muslims would be afraid to get on the planes for fear of seeing a naked woman, and of course, everyone in this country would start flying again in hope of seeing a naked woman.
We would have no more hijackings, and the airline industry would have record sales.
Now why didn't Congress think of this?
Don't feel so bad. I wore a pair of jeans with a metal button and had to step out of line in LaGuardia while the national guard was watching and get hand scanned. Its not something I like. Even though I am getting flamed and insulted like crazy here I am enjoying the discussion.
You ain't just whistling dixie there, bub.
Going out of Killeen, Texas they confiscated the insides to my zippo lighter.
I saw Bic lighters and matches go through with no problems but the insides to my zippo were verboten.
Lunacy? YES!
Passing out a blackjack to anybody who wants one before the flight would do a lot more for security than the Kabuki Theater being played out at the airport checkpoints.
It will take a "Friend of the Court" to move through the Appellate Court towards the Supreme Court to rule is this is Constitutional or not.
This PC crap that is controling the airport security could be the down-fall of our Constitutional system. Any Court can rule against the current PC system, but they have their own aggenda and will not do so.
I personally do not believe that this PC stuff is actually law but is policy. Policy is not law and is not enforceable by the Courts.
Now, don't take it personal. I did not mind being insulted at all. What I do mind is those that dish it out, and then claim that others doing the same are weakening their argument.
You are right about that. I agree. It seems like this is a no-win situation.
Well my friend, lets just respectfully disagree on this issue. After we have surrendered our rights in the "Name of security, or in the Name of Safety, or for the children" who will protect us from the government? History tells us that governments cannot and should not be trusted. If not keep as small as possible, they become the evil we dread.
If the government performed the tasks assigned by the Constitution and adhered to the limits placed on it, maybe they might have protected our boarders and kept this human rag head debris out of the country.
They didn't and their answer and yours I guess, is lets go after Mr. & Mrs. US Citizen and remove their nail clippers.
In the last week, there were 2 murders in the slum city near where I live. Gee the government was not there to protect them. Hmmmmmm, I guess the surrendering of liberties did not help these people. If they only had a gun, but in NYS you are almost considered a criminal if you want a gun .
Apparently you are not reading all my responses to other people. I absolutely believe in armed security - I believe Pilots should be armed and also we need Air Marshalls on board. I do believe in the right to bear arms. But You still are taking this personally and I can't help you there.
A trained terrorist can kill ya six kinds of ways sunday with what's already on board a commercial aircraft or that is "approved for carry on" .........don't believe it ? Open a standard hardshell briefcase, take note of the two metal scissor hinges on each side. Now think about removing the pop rivets and replacing em with screws with slots big enough that a dime size coin can unscrew. Sharpened and painted, replaced can be carried right on the AC. Add a bandanna to wrapp around the "shank" and wrap that bandanna with 4 or 5 large rubber bands and you have a first class mark one mod "O" prison shank with a six inch blade with three more to pass out to your other bad guys or good guys if ya plan for such events.
Pop open a compact umbrella, take a look at all the little metal splines, can ya fabricate with that ??? Yes !
A improvised flail made from the trouser belt or shoulder strap of your carry on baggage with two or three master padlocks snaped through the buckle will put a hurt on anyone ya whack with that , ......
My favorite is two rolls of quarters knotted into the corner of a scarf or large bandana and snap shot (think wet towel welts from horseplay fights at the pool) at the bridge of some weasels nose......Bottom line I want armed cockpit crew with a use of force policy that begins at the cockpit door for the uninvited. I want continued policy of checking for pistols and grenades etc etc by rent 'a cops. But what I really want is a society that will FIGHT back before they are led to slaughter.........
Stay Safe !
Do you not address the problem with the lack of profiling for terrorist and malcontents? Do see the problem with being Politically Correct as with the example of our airports. Do believe in the shake downs of our elderly and even Congressmen while the targets that we should be watching for are allowed to walk through so that we do not offend an alien in our country?
We "know" for whom we should be watching for and what they are and capable of doing. What purpose is being served currently at the airports? What is the aggenda? Do you really feel that it is security?
I am starting on painting ours this weekend. You can come by and do it for me if you want. I promise not to make you fly anywhere.
But ignoring that comment and deflecting the other to suggest that I am somehow taking it personal, is also insulting. I am not the one that is "getting flamed and insulted like crazy". Your comments are insuling, your rebuttal technique is flawed, but YOU personally are not insulting. My returning serve was insulting, but I personally am not insulting or flaming you "like crazy".
If you cared to read my posts you would have noticed that I wanted certified security officers, even if off duty, to fly armed. I also thought paid, armed security was a good thing. Did not mention a thing about "nutjobs". That was your offering, not mine.
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