Soldier Toy Disarmed at Airport

BBC News ^ | Monday, 5 August, 2002 | BBC Staff

[jjm2111]

A doll caused a security alert at an American airport because its two-inch plastic gun was considered a dangerous weapon. Judy Powell, 55, from Walton on the Hill, Surrey, bought the GI Joe toy in Las Vegas and packed it in her hand luggage.

But security staff at Los Angeles International Airport refused to let Mrs Powell on board the plane with the replica rifle.

Mrs Powell had to put the gift - minus the rifle - in her suitcase so it could go in the aircraft's hold.

Mrs Powell said: "I was simply stunned when I realised they were serious.

"Security examined the toy as if it was going to shoot them and looked at the rifle.

"I was really angry to start with because of the absurdity of the situation.

"But then I saw the funny side of it and thought this was simple lunacy."

A spokesman for Los Angeles International Airport said: "We have instructions to confiscate anything that looks like a weapon or a replica.

"If GI Joe was carrying a replica then it had to be taken from him."

[Sunshine Sister]

You and another one of my friends see eye to eye. Although your response is pursuasive, I don't buy it. The horror stories and the funny ones too (granny beats up screeners) are just to much. The idiot's leering when underwire bras set off the machine, the between the legs search......it's just to much. I am a natural born citizen with nothing to hide. I won't be treated in such a manner so I won't fly.

[Republicus2001]

speaking of plastic - does bulgaria still make that plastic "derringer-type" handgun?

[Republicus2001]

Anyways, GI Joe's guns never hit anything other than robots,

I've heard he's shot at dinosauers and those yellow bath ducks

[TexasRepublic]

I too have quit flying and won't until common sense prevails (probably never).

[Monti Cello]

Wow. I have to count this as a milestone in American history. I don't think even George Orwell would have dared to create a scenario as surreal as this.

What's even moer disturbing is the long list of similar, nearly equally bizarre actions made by bureaucratic idiots (airport security agents) taking orders from other bureaucratic idiots (Norm Mineta).

The end result is not pretty for free life in America.

[Rainmist]

My son ( 9 ) loves GI Joes, Ultimate Soldier, etc. He has an underbed box full of them, as well as accessories. He has about 5 vehicles and a huge helicopter. You should see the battlefields he sets up ! Now he wants the Bradley tank which is about 200 bucks. If I brought him a GI Joe home weaponless, he would be royally ticked. What's a soldier without his weapon, I ask you ??

[Jesse]

...he will not hesitate to use taxpayer money to bail out the industry, thereby overriding the wishes of the free market. Bet the farm on it.

Hey, I was going to say that! BTTT.

[Prodigal Son]

Methinks it will be a long long time before I come back to the United States. Pity, my wife has always wanted to see it too.

[E Rocc]

That's coming.

That's overshare. >:o

-Eric

[archy]

I too have quit flying and won't until common sense prevails (probably never).

The last airline security conference I went to, I took Amtrak.

The airlines are unsafe. Their pilots can't even be trusted with a handgun, let alone an airplane.

-archy-/-

[Tauzero]

The latest airport security training video:

[Tauzero]

ping

[headsonpikes]

I suggest C.M. Kornbluth's 'The Marching Morons'.

Orwell was an optimist.

[Pablo64]

"Either that or they have two brain cells, which are alleviating the boredom by playing tag."

I think those two brain cells only have a half of a synapse between them!

[savedbygrace]

Main Entry: rep·li·ca
Pronunciation: 're-pli-k&
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian, repetition, from replicare to repeat, from Late Latin, from Latin, to fold back -- more at REPLY
Date: 1824
1 : an exact reproduction (as of a painting) executed by the original artist
2 : a copy exact in all details ; broadly : COPY

Replica? Knuckle-dragging idiots.

[maxwellp]

Re your Post No. 2. I used to say that I will never fly again until they are arm our pilots. Now I say (1) arm our pilots, (2) profile people from the Middle East and (3) get rid of the morons who are currently in charge of security at our airports. Then I may fly again. Lord above, a 2" plastic toy gun!

[JZoback]

I can understand checking shoes for sharp objects and such

They actually checked your flip flops for what???

[Dukie]

From the other thread: Maybe he had one of those deadly 2" long .00223 caliber GI Joe rifles in his wallet?

Like this one.

The first thread had me thinking:"This can't be happening in America" It's now evident that this sort of dementia is a world wide phenomenon.