TSA Firearm recoveries
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I remember taking a flight maybe 2 or 3 weeks after they resumed post 9/11. There was a guy who had a gun in his carry-on luggage - quite easy to see on xray. The TSA called for the armed guy with the M16 to escort him away. I have rarely seen a paler complexion on the guy whose luggage was being removed. I turned to my spouse and said, "notice the nug on the x-ray" - concerned not to even say the word "gun." I figured the guy would spend the next 10-12 hours explaining things.
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@jon-nyc said in TSA Firearm recoveries:
Wow. That’s a special kind of stupid.
Was it at ORD?
Yup, ORD - I couldn't believe it. Wherever he planned to be, it wasn't going to happen.
Another goofy story from that time is that I have a brother-in-law who was a US Marshall. A TSA agent got all excited when he discovered a nail clipper in his carry-on luggage. The BIL then pointed out the fact that he was carrying a 9 mm sidearm and asked "why is it that I can carry this - and not a nail clipper?" They waved him through - with the clipper.
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@jon-nyc said in TSA Firearm recoveries:
Wow. That’s a special kind of stupid.
Was it at ORD?
Yup, ORD - I couldn't believe it. Wherever he planned to be, it wasn't going to happen.
Another goofy story from that time is that I have a brother-in-law who was a US Marshall. A TSA agent got all excited when he discovered a nail clipper in his carry-on luggage. The BIL then pointed out the fact that he was carrying a 9 mm sidearm and asked "why is it that I can carry this - and not a nail clipper?" They waved him through - with the clipper.
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Guys (and gals) forget.
When you pack one all of time, it's no more than a toothbrush.
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I can "kind of" understand forgetting it.
I travel enough that I have a routine and check/double check. (And of course, i have still forgotten things).
Another ORD story (but not so exciting). I went through security and was sitting in the international lounge and realized that my carry bag felt light. Yep, left my computer back at security. Ran all the way back and as I approached, the security guy said, "looks like you forgot something here!!". Found the computer, - made me turn it on and log in to prove it was mine. LOL
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You don't routinely carry a gun
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I routinely carry a lot of things, and as I prepare for a flight I think through in advance what I can bring on board, what I must check, and what I can’t check (eg lithium batteries). The principle is the same, it’s just that the stakes are higher with a gun.
