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TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

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Re: TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

#31

Post by OvidNaso »

markbao wrote: post #24
nthj wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> to help remind people to put guns into checked baggage instead I have to wonder how many of the firearms they stop are just regular law-abiding concealed handgun license bearers who, in their rush to get to the airport, forgot that they keep a loaded firearm in their purse, briefcase, or backpack. Since the penalty is a $7,500 fine and not 20 years in jail, I have to presume this scenario is far more common "malici…

I feel like I am the only person on this thread that thinks the scenario that someone just happened to "damn, went to the airport and forgot that I had a gun in my bag while going through airport security " is pretty far-fetched. A pocketknife from a fishing trip? Understandable. Being forgetful about having a gun in your bag? While going through airport security to get on an airplane? Not so much.

Is your opinion then that 20-30 people a week intend on using a weapon on board a plane?

Re: TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

#32

Post by DanBC »

nthj wrote: post #17
DanBC wrote: post #8

The headline is a bit odd. The TSA blog gives clear and simple instructions on how to take your weapons onto a plane. (Not loaded, not in your hand luggage.) Some people have said (on HN as well as other places) that the TSA have never stopped weapons getting on board a plane and if they had they would have heavily publicised it. In fact, they stop about 20 to 30 guns each week from getting on board a plane. Those gu…

> to help remind people to put guns into checked baggage instead I have to wonder how many of the firearms they stop are just regular law-abiding concealed handgun license bearers who, in their rush to get to the airport, forgot that they keep a loaded firearm in their purse, briefcase, or backpack. Since the penalty is a $7,500 fine and not 20 years in jail, I have to presume this scenario is far more common "malici…

> This would be a very easy statistic to publish, too (only 10% of the people we stopped were even licensed to carry a handgun!)

As I understand it TSA only do the finding of the guns and it's local law enforcement who does the rest. So TSA have no idea about who's allowed to carry the weapon or not.

I agree that these are just careless or forgetful people (or perhaps people making a point about their right to etc etc) and not terrorists.

> This would be a very easy statistic to publish, too (only 10% of the people we stopped were even licensed to carry a handgun!), but since I haven't seen that statistic advertised, I would presume they find most of the stopped citizens to be guilty only of carelessness.

I really hope that careless people are not being fined, or if they are it's only small. I also really hope that someone, somewhere, with a solid stats background, is collecting and studying the numbers and giving advice to law makers. Because spending all that time and money on something that's pointless would be very very frustrating. I want to know what the future-people will say about it. What will the 2063 tenth-graders write about it?

Re: TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

#33

Post by qwerty_asdf »

nthj wrote: post #28
jlgreco wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> (only 10% of the people we stopped were even licensed to carry a handgun!) That would only be a meaningful statement in some states.

If by "some", you mean "most", and if by "most", you mean "all but one." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concealed_carry_in_the_United_...

From your link:

  Among U.S. states, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Vermont 
  and Wyoming allow residents to carry a concealed firearm 
  without a permit. These states also allow the open carry 
  of a handgun without a permit.
I count five.

Re: TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

#34

Post by staunch »

markbao wrote: post #24
nthj wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> to help remind people to put guns into checked baggage instead I have to wonder how many of the firearms they stop are just regular law-abiding concealed handgun license bearers who, in their rush to get to the airport, forgot that they keep a loaded firearm in their purse, briefcase, or backpack. Since the penalty is a $7,500 fine and not 20 years in jail, I have to presume this scenario is far more common "malici…

I feel like I am the only person on this thread that thinks the scenario that someone just happened to "damn, went to the airport and forgot that I had a gun in my bag while going through airport security " is pretty far-fetched. A pocketknife from a fishing trip? Understandable. Being forgetful about having a gun in your bag? While going through airport security to get on an airplane? Not so much.

Literally millions of Americans carry guns legally as part of their everyday routine. It's not surprising that dozens of them a week forget that they have it on them when they go to the airport.

Re: TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

#35

Post by korethr »

outworlder wrote: post #25
asperous wrote: post #9

This feels kinda wrong, but I have to keep in mind that these people chose to give up these items. From the TSA Blog (I cannot confirm if true) When prohibited items come through the checkpoint, passengers are given options: 1) Take the item to the ticket counter and check it in your baggage or a box provided by the airport. 2) Many airports have a US Postal Service or other shipping services area where boxes, stamps…

Aren't you already inside the security checkpoint when the carry on is checked for? How can one leave items at the car by then?

In every airport I've been through, passengers and carry on baggage are checked before the you get past the checkpoint. Yes, the screening areas are usually roped off, but that's it. It's not terribly difficult for a TSA agent to have you step out of line and then lift a rope to allow you to exit the screening area. Yes, having to go back out to one's car and then return to the end of the line sucks, but it's probably better than having your stuff confiscated or being carried away in handcuffs.

Re: TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

#36

Post by qwerty_asdf »

SubZero wrote: post #4

While it is kind of a sad PR stunt from someone with a 14 year old hipster child at home, it is kind of cool if you look for the ways people try to smuggle goods and weapons onto flights.

Except for all the horrible jpeg compression artifacts.

...or is that considered "art" lately?

Re: TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

#37

Post by walshemj »

nthj wrote: post #17
DanBC wrote: post #8

The headline is a bit odd. The TSA blog gives clear and simple instructions on how to take your weapons onto a plane. (Not loaded, not in your hand luggage.) Some people have said (on HN as well as other places) that the TSA have never stopped weapons getting on board a plane and if they had they would have heavily publicised it. In fact, they stop about 20 to 30 guns each week from getting on board a plane. Those gu…

> to help remind people to put guns into checked baggage instead I have to wonder how many of the firearms they stop are just regular law-abiding concealed handgun license bearers who, in their rush to get to the airport, forgot that they keep a loaded firearm in their purse, briefcase, or backpack. Since the penalty is a $7,500 fine and not 20 years in jail, I have to presume this scenario is far more common "malici…

Sorry if you own a weapon it behooves you to know where it is at all times - people that dumb should have their license revoked.

Re: TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

#38

Post by jmspring »

It is worth pointing out, a trick a number of photographer friends use when having to check their photo gear is to include a flare gun (or was it a starter pistol) in the case and note that there is a firearm. It increases the scrutiny and tracking of the bag.

Lifehacker had an article on it --

http://lifehacker.com/5448014/pack-a-gun-to-protect-valuable...

Re: TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

#39

Post by jacquesm »

nthj wrote: post #17
DanBC wrote: post #8

The headline is a bit odd. The TSA blog gives clear and simple instructions on how to take your weapons onto a plane. (Not loaded, not in your hand luggage.) Some people have said (on HN as well as other places) that the TSA have never stopped weapons getting on board a plane and if they had they would have heavily publicised it. In fact, they stop about 20 to 30 guns each week from getting on board a plane. Those gu…

> to help remind people to put guns into checked baggage instead I have to wonder how many of the firearms they stop are just regular law-abiding concealed handgun license bearers who, in their rush to get to the airport, forgot that they keep a loaded firearm in their purse, briefcase, or backpack. Since the penalty is a $7,500 fine and not 20 years in jail, I have to presume this scenario is far more common "malici…

If you forget you're carrying a loaded firearm you shouldn't be carrying one in the first place. Such responsibility should not be dealt with lightly, if you're not aware that you have it you are also not aware when you lose it.

Re: TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

#40

Post by asperous »

bwhite wrote: post #23
asperous wrote: post #9

This feels kinda wrong, but I have to keep in mind that these people chose to give up these items. From the TSA Blog (I cannot confirm if true) When prohibited items come through the checkpoint, passengers are given options: 1) Take the item to the ticket counter and check it in your baggage or a box provided by the airport. 2) Many airports have a US Postal Service or other shipping services area where boxes, stamps…

In many places, none of these suggestions would help someone who realizes he is carrying a handgun. 1) There are guidelines for how the firearm must be shipped; simply sliding it into your checked baggage will not work. 2) Handguns are generally prohibited from being mailed via the USPS. 3) The person seeing you off may not be properly licensed to transport the handgun. 4) Storing a valuable object in a vehicle which…

1 & 2 are true for handguns (as checked luggage, they have to be in a hardsided locked case for example.)

but 3 & 4 I think would practically be the best route, despite some risks.

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