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TSA's gun policy: Confiscate it, Instagram it

money.cnn.com

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

#2
This smells like a desperate attempt by the TSA to justify their own existence.

Note that none of these confiscated weapons by themselves necessarily constitute an intent to use them. Knives especially are commonly carried and can easily be forgotten about.

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

#7
post #2

This smells like a desperate attempt by the TSA to justify their own existence. Note that none of these confiscated weapons by themselves necessarily constitute an intent to use them. Knives especially are commonly carried and can easily be forgotten about.

> Note that none of these confiscated weapons by themselves necessarily constitute an intent to use them.

Exactly. If these were instances of the TSA actually protecting us then "passengers who try to go through security with a firearm usually get a citation and can face a fine" would not be the case.

Not unless our plan is fining and citing terrorists out of existence.

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

#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 guns and knives are posted to their blog.

Perhaps posting images on Instagram will let more people know that the TSA manage to stop some weapons (although I don't care about the guns they stop, I care about the gun they don't stop and which is then used to harm someone) and to help remind people to put guns into checked baggage instead?

(http://blog.tsa.gov/search/label/Week%20In%20Review)

Note that I'm not defending particularly defending TSA here.

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

#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 and envelopes can be bought so you can ship your items home.

3) If there is somebody seeing you off, you can hand the prohibited item to them.

4) If your car is parked outside, you can take the item to your car.

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

#10
post #5

I wonder how many TSA empoyees it takes to run an Instagram account. All kidding aside, I wonder what mega IT company won the bid to run the Instagram account.

It being run a program called "Optical Grating". Its a low cost alternative to "PRISM"
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