Posted on 08/14/2002 2:17:23 PM PDT by NEWwoman
Wyoming man with loaded gun arrested at San Jose airport Source: kcbs Publication date: 2002-08-14
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- A Wyoming man arrested after airport security screeners discovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun in his carryon luggage was being held in Santa Clara County jail Tuesday night.
William Simmons, 57, was arrested around 2:45 Tuesday afternoon at Mineta San Jose International Airport after a screener found the gun in his luggage and notified police, said Officer Joseph Deras, a spokesman with the San Jose Police Department.
Simmons was being held on charges of possessing a concealed loaded firearm, Deras said. Simmons was uncooperative with police and had to be forcibly arrested, he said. Simmons was taken to a nearby hospital after complaining he was hyperventilating. He was examined and released, Deras said.
The airport was not evacuated because security screeners found the weapon before Simmons was past the checkpoint, Deras said.
(10:35p.m.)
I am free to carry a concealed weapon in many places, but there are restrictions, and for the most part they are there for a good reason. I can't carry into places that serve alcohol, big public gatherings like concerts, and airports.
Isolated in an ideal world, and looking at it from a strict constitutionalist mindset, my right to carry should not be infringed regardless of my location, so I see the position you take. But, I know this is not an ideal world, and even though I wish all gun owners were as responsible as I try to be, I know that is not the case.
The laws have been well promulgated with regard to weapons and airports ... anyone that says they didn't know they had a loaded pistol in their carry-on is someone that I do not wish to have a gun at all. He was careless, and firearms and 'careless' do not mix.
Here in Florida (and many other states), you can CCW in places that serve alcohol (unless it's a bar) and in "public gatherings".
I haven't seen any evidence to suggest that gun crimes are more numerous in states with loose CCW laws, than those with strict CCW laws. The bottom line is that CCW holders don't commit crimes. Criminals, on the other hand, ignore and even take advantage of "no carry zones".
Contrary to your suggestion, a bunch of tyrants telling Free Americans where they can't carry is not for a "good reason". It has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with giving the sheeple a false sense of security while scoring cheap political points for themselves.
Isolated in an ideal world, and looking at it from a strict constitutionalist mindset, my right to carry should not be infringed regardless of my location....
Although I haven't mentioned it yet on this thread, it's also a "Right to self-defense issue".
People have a Right to self-defense that no government or no person can take away. The most effective method of self defense is carrying a loaded firearm. When a government tells you that you can't carry on planes, they are infringing upon your Right to self-defense, especially since the government has proven their ineffectiveness at defending us on aircraft.
There you go, projecting again.
I notice the smiley, though, so perhaps you're catching on that no reasonable person would seriously believe that a legally armed person, even one from DUh (is that even possible?), would really shoot someone for being a loudmouth.
The analogy to the anti-gunners hysteria over CCW reform in 34 states is quite apt - they said that Florida would become the "Gunshine State" before their pioneering 1987 shall-issue CCW law went into effect, but their crime rate actually dropped when the rest of the nation's was rising, and fell faster than the rest of the nation later on. For references, check the most recent state, Michigan. They adopted their law just over a year ago.
So the question thus becomes, why do you feel that you would be inclined to shoot someone for verbally insulting your deeply-held beliefs? 1/2
A friend of mine and I are going to fly down to Phoenix for the Gun Rights Policy Conference from the SF Bay Area under the rubric of the Armed Pilot and Citizen Air Marshal Program - ah, the joys of General Aviation and a private pilot's license!
(If anyone in the area wants to join us in flying armed, we're looking for people to split the cost with.)
Same here. I have not flown seven times since 10/2001 (the month I quit flying). The airport security measures are not only a farce, but an insult to American citizens. I do miss flying because it's a long drive from SC to Austin, TX. But I have driven that trip three times since last Oct.
The airports need a freep or two, with the message, "We don't fly again until passengers and pilots are armed." (In fact, Freepers flying to Las Vegas need to be freeped)
I have seen little indications that the government and the airlines are getting that message, though they won't admit it openly.
That's cool by me - you go by Free Republic, I'll go by my experience in aircraft maintenance. Ok?
You mean those non-pressurized B-17s??
And before we get into a pissing match about pressurized and unpressurized aircraft - you need to go back and the post you responded to - and then tell me what you consider an explosive decompression. The "Hawaii incident" you refer to was not an explosive decompression nor was it a "defect." It was a structural failure, brought on by poor maintenance.
I'm thinking that we're dealing with a problem of semantics here. When I say "explosive decompression," apparently, you're conjuring up some image where the sides of the aircraft blow out, passengers are sucked away, and the plane crashes.
Hate to disappoint you, but that's not an explosive decompression. Explosive decompression is a sudden, rapid loss of cabin pressure. Ever been through one? I have, on an Air Force KC-135. The sudden drop in air pressure really screws up your ears, but what's really interesting is you find out why the oxygen masks on civilian aircraft are bright orange. When the pressure drops, all the moisure in the air condenses - suddenly you can't see more than a few inches in front of your face.
Also, when you read my original post, please point out where I said there would be a crash or anything like that. All I said was "nothing like an explosive decompression to really make your day."
You're missing the whole point.
The purpose of "an armed society" isn't so that everyone goes around shooting everyone else. The purpose of an armed society is to prevent people from shooting each other.
It's called "deterrence", and it's been proven to work. Most recent/dramatic example? It was called "the cold war".
Therefore, your question is meaningless, because "if they allow passengers to have concealed weapons," there won't be any hijackers on the plane -- and thus, no reason to even try to "make the distinction between a regular passenger and a possible hijacker."
Maybe, maybe not. If the rules that were applied to schools that "receive federal funds", the heavily subsidized airlines would have no say in the matter. What the feds said "applied" would apply, or they'd receive no further funding, and, likely be prosecuted for violations that occured while the did receive the funds.
Note that even with a barndoor-sized hole in the roof, the aircraft was landed successfully.
Sounds good. Please back up your claims with some evidence, OK?
So far, I am aware of exactly ONE example of "explosive decompression" caused by gunfire.
However, I discount it, inasmuch as it occurred in a James Bond movie.
OK, I'm all ears. Please document some real-life examples of "explosive decompression" caused by gunfire.
Be warned, however, that the threads that you so readily discount carried beaucoup documentation from those in the industry who scoff at the idea you assert.
Oh, and in closing, it occurs to me that YOU are "on Freerepublic" too. So who the hell are YOU that we should ignore all of the documented evidence and bow down at your knees?
There are about 3,000 people who would disagree with your sentiments -- if only they were alive and breathing for the past 11 months.
Odd.
In my posts, I don't recall asking anyone to go by my experience. In fact, what I said was "you go by Free Republic, I'll go by my experience in aircraft maintenance."
But hey, feel free to interpret what I say in any way you want.
BTW, you might want to read the other posts I have on this thread regarding "explosive decompression," ok?
Have a nice night, and you might want to cut down on the caffiene.
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