'This Is Not Right'

KOMO 1000 News (Radio) ^ | June 1, 2005 | Kevin Reece

[ActionNewsBill]

'This Is Not Right'

June 1, 2005
 
By Kevin Reece

DES MOINES - Cecilia Beaman is a 57-year-old grandmother, a principal at Pacific Middle School in Des Moines, and as of Sunday is also a suspected terrorist.

"This is not right," she told us. It's not right!"

This past weekend she and several other chaperones took 37 middle school students to a Heritage Festival band competition in California. The trip included two days at Disneyland.

During the stay she made sandwiches for the kids and was careful to pack the knives she used to prepare those sandwiches in her checked luggage. She says she even alerted security screeners that the knives were in her checked bags and they told her that was OK.

But Beaman says she couldn't find a third knife. It was a 5 1/2 inch bread knife with a rounded tip and a serrated edge. She thought she might have lost or misplaced it during the trip.

On the trip home, screeners with the Transportation Security Administration at Los Angeles International Airport found it deep in the outside pocket of a carry-on cooler. Beaman apologized and told them it was a mistake.

"You've committed a felony," Beaman says a security screener announced. "And you're considered a terrorist."

Beaman says she was told her name would go on a terrorist watch-list and that she would have to pay a $500 fine.

"I'm a 57-year-old woman who is taking care of 37 kids," she told them. "I'm not gonna commit a terrorist act." Beaman says they took information from her Washington drivers license and confiscated and photographed the knife according to standard operating procedure.

She says screeners refused to give her paperwork or documentation of her violation, documentation of the pending fine, or a copy of the photograph of the knife.

"They said 'no' and they said it's a national security issue. And I said what about my constitutional rights? And they said 'not at this point ... you don't have any'."

KOMO News did reach a spokesperson with the Transportation Security Administration for comment. They said they did not have record of Beaman's confrontation but did admit that TSA screeners are, by design, becoming more strict.

Despite continued warnings to passengers, TSA screeners say travelers continue to bring banned items in their carry-on luggage. Knives, guns, and other weapons are found and confiscated daily.

Fines issued for knives and other sharp objects range from $250 to $1,500. Fines issued for firearms discovered in carry-on luggage range from $1,500 to $7,500.

The TSA web site also indicates firearms violations will be referred for potential criminal prosecution. The same site does not propose the same criminal referral for knives like the one Cecilia Beaman was carrying.

"This is not the way my country should be treating me," she said. My concern is that if that's the way they're treating American citizens I would hate to think how they're treating other people. It's crazy."

The TSA reminds travelers that is has the authority to impose civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation.

"TSA needs the help of the traveling public in reducing the number of prohibited items brought to airport screening checkpoints," reads the Sanction Guidelines section of the TSA web site. "TSA recognizes that most passengers who carry prohibited items do so without any ill intent. TSA does not impose fines on the vast number of passengers who inadvertently carry prohibited items. Dealing with any prohibited item, however, adds time to the screening process both for the traveler who brought the item and for other travelers as well."

You can find a complete list of banned items, range of fines levied for violations, and information on how to plead your case with the TSA at www.tsa.gov.

[iconoclast]

On the other hand, she brought a knife. What did she expect, a pat on the back?

On one occasion I was relieved of my very intimidating nail scissors.

On another, a plastic cork screw was confiscated.

I guess I'm lucky to be walkin' around a free 69 year old Irish-American "terrorist".

[Hunble]

Sigh ... I'll ask the question one last time: What proof is there that any of this happened?

Double sign....

If this was an isolated incident, then I would agree with your question.

Are you new to Free Republic? Do you know how to search the archives?

Sadly, this is all too common and is repeated almost daily in our nation.

Heck, I could give you even more examples from my own personal experiences of flying. Thankfully, I am a private pilot and rarely use the national airlines today.

Like I said before, I am now prohibited from flying on commercial airlines because I carry a BIC cigarette lighter.

[DugwayDuke]

"Armed American citizens that will sacrifice their own lives to protect others."

There are any number of issues with this solution.

First, you're fighting the last terrorist attack. There is absolutely nothing that an armed passenger can do against a remotely detonated bomb or one that is time fused. Your call to eliminate all security check points would only lead to any number of them being placed on board an aircraft.

Second, why do you want to place American citizens into a situation where they might have to sacrifice their lives to prevent a terrorist bombing when there are far more effective methods such as security check points to prevent the introduction of bombs onto commercial aircraft that are available?

Third, exactly which passengers do you propose being allowed to carry a fire arm onto an aircraft? Oh, yeah, American citizens. Well, do you propose citizenship checks along with metal detectors to screen out non-citizens? Exactly how will this prevent the formation of long lines at the check-in? I suppose you'd allow terrorists who happen to be American citizens to carry as well?

And, your next solution is....?

[ActionNewsBill]

Look, if you don't break the rules, you will be fine.

"Did you really think we want those laws observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them to be broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against... We're after power and we mean it...

There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals.

Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone?

But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt."

[DugwayDuke]

"First thing on my agenda if asked the same question is firing any bozo with your attitude."

Really? You believe any one who believes that keeping armed terrorists off of commercial airlines is a 'bozo' and should be 'fired'? Well, that's certainly worth considering.

[rwfromkansas]

Poor Hunble, you are such a victim.

Oh wait, you aren't banned from flying, just from bringing along a lighter.

Oh the horror. Nevermind that matches are still okay or that he could guy a cheap lighter off the plane.

Still the victim.

[ActionNewsBill]

You believe any one who believes that keeping armed terrorists off of commercial airlines is a 'bozo' and should be 'fired'?

You seem to believe that by going after grannies with butter knives, TSA is keeping flights safe from terrorists.

[silent_jonny]

Are you new to Free Republic?

You could look at my Profile Page and see for yourself.

[bvw]

Not only absent common sense, you are mentally seriously confused. The woman is not a terrorist. And -- that flight which crashed in Pennsylvania showed -- Americans fight back. Americans should be armed.

Why are you deranged, psychotic, perhaps? Because you see your fellow Americans as terrorists, and not as Americans.

[Hunble]

And your solution to airport security in particular and the war on terror in general is exactly what?

1. Profile passengers based on their ethnicity and religious preference.

No profiling is required.

2. Arm the pilots.

Everyone on the aircraft may, or may not be armed. Nobody will ever know.

3. Allow concealed weapons license holders to carry on board flights.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Why should only licensed concealed weapon holders have the right to protect their own life?

Everyone on an American airliner may or may not be armed at any time. Now, as a terrorist, are you willing to take that risk?

Our founding fathers had the correct answers, if we only stop and listen.

[iconoclast]

What teacher makes the sandwiches for her kids? None that I have ever seen. That is done at home.

This poor 57 year old woman had just spent what, a week?, two weeks?, living out of a suitcase with thirty seven middle school kids!

That TSA-hole was lucky she didn't rip that butter knife from his hand and stab him until she couldn't find another clean spot.

[laredo44]

Yeah, you're right...why do we need that pesky constitution and Bill of Rights for anyways.

Where is the constitutional right to ride an airplane? What rights of hers were violated? You sympathize with her. I don't. I find her actions very, very suspicious. I despise the left's tactics to disrupt and this school official has all the markings of Exhibit A.

[Erik Latranyi]

1. Profile passengers based on their ethnicity and religious preference.

2. Arm the pilots.

3. Allow concealed weapons license holders to carry on board flights.

Problem solved.

Until the terrorists are not ethnic (John Walker Lindh) or dupes (medicated elderly/disabled)

[from occupied ga]

My point was that just because 80% of them are jerks doesn't mean that she isn't one of the 20%. You're doing guilt by association.

[DugwayDuke]

There are any number of issues with this solution.

First, you're fighting the last terrorist attack. There is absolutely nothing that an armed passenger can do against a remotely detonated bomb or one that is time fused. Eliminating all security check points would only lead to any number of them being placed on board an aircraft.

Exactly which passengers do you propose being allowed to carry a fire arm onto an aircraft? Oh, yeah, American citizens. Well, do you propose citizenship checks along with metal detectors to screen out non-citizens? I suppose you'd allow terrorists who happen to be American citizens to carry as well?

BTW, my CCP is a paper form very much like a hunting license and easily forged. My state is a 'shall-issue' state where any resident of more than 180 days without a criminal background 'shall' be issued a permit. Are you suggesting that any citizen should be denied such a permit based upon their relgious and ethnic backgrounds? Do you have any other groups or reasons in mind to prevent otherwise lawfully qualified persons from being granted a CCP?

[rwfromkansas]

"Currently, in Iraq, they are paying men to drive cars from one location to another. The driver does not know the car is packed with explosives and is detonated remotely."

Good point. This is happening via car repair shops in Baghdad according to CBS yesterday. The drivers leave without realizing that they have a bomb on their car. The terrorists then follow them with a remote control and detonate the car at the appropriate time.

Anybody can be used by a terrorist.

[hopespringseternal]

Look, if you don't break the rules, you will be fine.

Wrong. There are scores of stories of people who weren't breaking the rules and still had to endure bizarre and perverse TSA behavior.

TSA doesn't work. If the terrorists had tried another attack, they would have a 50/50 chance of success if TSA were the only obstacle they faced.

Air Marshalls, armed pilots, and the fact that the passengers are alert to the new realities of hijacking (it's no longer a "wait out the idiot" situation) have a much better chance of thwarting hijackers than confiscating butter knives and feeling up grade schoolers.

[Hunble]

Where is the constitutional right to ride an airplane? What rights of hers were violated?

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Sir, are you a Conservative, or is the Constitution something totally new to you?

[DugwayDuke]

"You seem to believe that by going after grannies with butter knives, TSA is keeping flights safe from terrorists."

Please quit distoring the facts for rhetorical purposes. This 'grannie' was carrying a butter knife with a serrated edge that was over five inches in length. I would remind you that the terrorists on 9/11 used weapons of much less lethality.

I would also remind you that 'grannie' could have been carrying a weapon on board the aircraft to give to a terrorist. You are aware that terrorists have used unwitting passengers in the past to ferry their bombs aboard aircraft?

[ActionNewsBill]

Why should only licensed concealed weapon holders have the right to protect their own life?

Point taken.