Leave Gun, Chain Saw at Home When Flying [View All]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- More than three years after the Sept. 11 attacks, air travelers still are trying to carry thousands of potentially deadly items on planes every month.

The Transportation Security Administration, which took over security screening at 450 airports in February 2002, said Tuesday it had confiscated 15.6 million prohibited items, including 2,150 guns, 75,241 boxcutters and 4.7 million knives through the end of October.

A 79-year-old woman was arrested Tuesday at Fort Lauderdale International Airport in Florida after screeners found a single-shot Colt Derringer and seven bullets in her tote bag. She said she forgot it was in the bag, which she tried to carry on the plane, according to the Broward County sheriff's office.

Billie Vincent, former security chief for the Federal Aviation Administration, blames stupidity and forgetfulness in most cases.

``How do you deal with people who have to know about 9/11 and, even inadvertently, are still trying to get knives onto planes?'' he asked.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Airport-Weapons.html