Leave Gun, Chain Saw at Home When Flying

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

It took over two hours to get through the security checkpoint at the time. I couldn't help but notice the glass case holding items that had been taken from passengers trying to carry them on planes.

In it was a freaking kerosene-powered leaf blower. :wtf:

(groan)

When flying out of the country last month, the passenger going through security in front of me was a foreign woman and she had her carry-on locked.

She told the TSA guy that she didn't want to give him the combination because that was HER combination and she didn't want to give it out. She actually said "If I give it to you it will no longer be secret."

What did she think he was going to do? Fly to Tokyo, track her down and pilfer through her suitcase?

Pick up the clue phone, people!

I just do not understand people. I have my "flying clothes/shoes" and it is simple things like duhhhh have your driver's license and boarding pass out to give to the screeners. If the man in front of you is digging in his wallet for his drivers license, maybe it would CLUE you in to getting out yours. BUT NO..... duhhhh... you have to wait until they ask you to get yours.......

I fly a lot and have the routine down - belt, keys, loose change goes in a zip-lock in my carry on, I have my shoes off before I get up to the metal detector and I have my laptop out and ready to go in one of the carriers.

Even if you don't travel very much, you'd think common sense would make its presence known to some of these people.

Martial arts pants (no pockets, drawstring) a t-shirt, sandals and that's it. Once I get in line I have my passport in hand and anything else I need. I just wish they'd have a sanatized pad I could stand on instead of the floor when I have my shoes off.

At the airport in may they had my daughter scared (she's 5). To begin with one of the "security" people started threating this man that he wasn't going to get through the gate because he was causing a ruckus about taking off his shoes. They said it was voluntary, but you have to do it. He was asking how that was voluntary and it pissed the people working there off. So the security people were yelling at this guy (very unprofessional IMO) it scared her then she was afraid of the wand they run over you, they wouldn't let us through until she stood there and let them use the wand. She was almost hyperventilating. I ticked me off so bad.