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Anyone accidently carried a gun through TSA security

18,236 Views | 108 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by aggiepublius
GMaster0
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To add some levity: Upon random inspection by customs when flying back mil-air from Korea to Japan, one of the Marines on the plane was relieved of his Fleshlight since it represented pornography. Supposedly it is illegal to bring porn into Japan, the incident was awkward for everyone that beared witness. We were all carrying arms, which made it more hilarious. The ride to the armory had plenty of jokes.
OnlyForNow
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AG
So they took his fake ***** away but let him keep the hard stuff?
Scruffy
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GMaster0 said:

To add some levity: Upon random inspection by customs when flying back mil-air from Korea to Japan, one of the Marines on the plane was relieved of his Fleshlight since it represented pornography. Supposedly it is illegal to bring porn into Japan, the incident was awkward for everyone that beared witness. We were all carrying arms, which made it more hilarious. The ride to the armory had plenty of jokes.
Wait...
SO the country with tentacles raping little girls anime won't allow "pornography"?
WOW.
GMaster0
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Mil-air is different for a mission, you can carry knives, guns, giant bottles of liquids, lighters, put up hammocks, dip cope,etc.

In this situation the USMC giveth, and the green weenie literally taketh.
Scruffy
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AG
Seems fitting the Green Weenie would take a fleshlight.
aggiedent
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Back when I was a kid, probably mid seventies, we flew to England to visit my grandparents and other relatives. My dad had been in the Home Guard and later in the Para regiment. With the shortage of supplies at the beginning of WWII, the troops were issues "practice" rounds. My dad had 2 clips, each containing 5 .303 dummy rounds. One even had wooden tips. I asked if we could bring them home.

Well my mom put them in her purse and forgot about them. At Heathrow, in the 70's, security was exclusively hand searches. Of course, the clips were found. Never seen my mom so flustered in her life. We were allowed to keep them, so long as they were never taken out of her purse during the flight.

Don't think that would fly today.
Mark Fairchild
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AG
We were in Church one Sunday evening and my middle daughter came and and motioned for us to come outside. My BIL in Longview had just had a heart attack. We rushed home to pack up for Longview. I had just gotten off a well and had my holstered 1911 in my travel bag (years ago, we were independents and did not have all the safety crap that majors had/have!). Thought of course that I had pulled it out. Quick look in the bag prior to leaving and it looked like my Dopp kit. In the panic I somehow thought it would be faster from Midland, TX to fly to Dallas, rent a car and drive from Dallas to Longview. Totally wrong assumption but we did not have time to think.

Got to Longview and got to see my BIL prior to his passing RIP. Next morning got up to shave in the motel. Pulled out what I thought was my Dopp kit and nearly dropped to the floor. There in my hand was my 1911. Stunned and speechless does not cover it. How it got past security, it was a carry on and scanned on the belt is totally beyond me. TSA musta been asleep, or had the machine turned off.

To this day I can still remember the chill I got thinking about my wife with her brother dead and me in jail for a firearms violation on a domestic flight. God must have blinded that TSA officer knowing I was a dumbass!
Gig'em, Ole Army Class of '70
jhammond
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Same. She had two small kids with her and they escorted her out to the car to put it up. Her only saving grace was having her LTC on her. And also got about a $5000 fine.
ToHntortoFsh
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Happened to me, same basic premise as most put it in my bag at hotel damn early flight forgot it was in there.
TSA will send your friend a civil fine for a very large amount. They will have options to get the fine reduced. CALL THEM ON THE PHONE!! they reduced my fine by a significant amount more than the other write in options. Still paid $750 but it was much better than the the other alternatives. Oh I had a current CHl so I was lucky for that.

Most important like others have said I never put the gun in my travel bag anymore.
"America is a nation that can be defined in a single word:

Asufutimaehaehfutbw"
MisterShipWreck
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I always make sure to NEVER use a bag that has anything to do with guns/shooting - when I go to fly.
Texas 1836
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IrishTxAggie said:

How can a government agency (DHS) level a monetary fine against an individual if no crime is committed? Seems like someone should sue the **** out of TSA for this practice and it belongs in front of SCOTUS.
Agreed. I don't understand why there is a fine at all. You either committed a crime or not, if you did, then it's jail time.

You think people with bad intentions will be deterred by a fine??

I can't think of any report since 911 where TSA stopped a terrorist/hijacker/etc with a gun. It's always some poor shmoe who forgot it was in their bag.

The 911 hijackers used box cutters. You get caught with a knife at security, they either confiscate it or let you mail it to yourself. It just appears to be a shakedown of people making a careless mistake, not criminals.

CanyonAg77
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Quote:

Agreed. I don't understand why there is a fine at all. You either committed a crime or not, if you did, then it's jail time.

You think people with bad intentions will be deterred by a fine??

My interpretation? It's a way to slap you in the face for wasting their time. And if they can terrorize more people into being OCD about checking their own bags, it makes their job much, much easier. I suspect there is a ton of paperwork involved with finding a gun.

And don't discount their deep embarrassment when a gun does get through. They're fining you for "disrespecting" them.
IrishTxAggie
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CanyonAg77 said:

Quote:

Agreed. I don't understand why there is a fine at all. You either committed a crime or not, if you did, then it's jail time.

You think people with bad intentions will be deterred by a fine??

My interpretation? It's a way to slap you in the face for wasting their time. And if they can terrorize more people into being OCD about checking their own bags, it makes their job much, much easier. I suspect there is a ton of paperwork involved with finding a gun.

And don't discount their deep embarrassment when a gun does get through. They're fining you for "disrespecting" them.
But yet the dumbasses fail something like over 97% of tests...
CanyonAg77
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91AggieLawyer
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Quote:

One more reason that your range bag is never your travel bag

It isn't that simple. I sometimes carry in the backpack I might fly with. Yes, I need to be careful in not carrying on a plane, but my range bag would never be in the equation.
Tx-Ag2010
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91AggieLawyer said:

Quote:

One more reason that your range bag is never your travel bag

It isn't that simple. I sometimes carry in the backpack I might fly with. Yes, I need to be careful in not carrying on a plane, but my range bag would never be in the equation.


This. I usually keep a pistol in my backpack and do quite a bit of traveling with it. However I'm always Uber paranoid about double/triple checking all the pockets before I head to the airport.
SteveBott
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Question why are ammo without a gun to use them a problem?
IrishTxAggie
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SteveBott said:

Question why are ammo without a gun to use them a problem?
Because a round can still be discharge without an actual gun.
SteveBott
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How? I need an education
CanyonAg77
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IrishTxAggie said:

SteveBott said:

Question why are ammo without a gun to use them a problem?
Because a round can still be discharge without an actual gun.

And do almost no damage.

I suspect it's a big deal because they think you're trying to smuggle the gun in pieces as well
Buck Compton
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SteveBott said:

Question why are ammo without a gun to use them a problem?
  • Because you can still use or find a 3D printed weapon that is still good for a shot or two.
  • You can still find ways to make ammo explode (and do damage if you bring a lot)
  • Same reason gun parts aren't allowed if TSA is paying attention. Enough different people sneakin separate parts, and boom, now you have a loaded gun beyond security
  • etc.

More than enough reasons for me to be fine with ammo not being in carry-ons...
agfan2013
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SteveBott said:

How? I need an education



You uh, hit the primer with a sharp object. Legit can't tell if sarcasm or not....

As canyon said it won't do much, a bullet needs a barrel to pick up speed so one going off by itself won't do much but the casing and the projectile will separate and there will be a loud pop. But if you combined the powder from a bunch and set it off....might do something more. Would probably need an unreasonable amount of ammo to get enough to blow a hole in the side of a plane or anything, but I still think it's a good idea to not let them on a plane anyways.
SteveBott
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Ok thanks. Fair enough
NICU Dad
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kag00 said:

Massive bonehead move by a friend of mine who is a CHL holder. He had a loaded 9mm in a locked case in one of his bags. He didn't get arrested but did get detained and released in a hour or so.

Anyone ever done this or have a good attorney to make sure he dosen't get sent down the river?

Haven't read the thread yet, but I'm actually surprised those idiots at TSA actually found the gun.
cupofjoe04
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TLDR: In China, after failing to legally check 2 souvineer knives in our luggage, I got detained for accidentally missing a key ring multi tool in my cary on.

Story Time:
We were in China on a trip for my work, and part of what I was doing was running sports camps for kids. I had some basic medical supplies- including an infantecimally small Gerber multi tool (kind that goes on your key ring). Got burried in the bottom of my carry on- and I checked that thing THOROUGHLY, somehow missed it.

One other guy and I had bought some decorative looking knives, and put them in our check bags. We studied the regs very carefully, and checked the giant red sign which explained this exact issue in English, and confirmed with an airline rep. My buddy checked his bag, no problem. Then it was my turn. They opened my check bag, saw the 6" fixed blade knife with a sheath (probably cheap tourist crap anyway), and flipped out. Called me behind the counter, and we argued back and forth about wether it was allowed. Mind you, this is CHECKED, and the blade clearly fit well within the descriptions of allowed checked items (which specifically addressed blades). They summoned the police, at which point I threw up my hands and told them to keep it. Maybe the agent was the knife sellers cousin, and this a racket.

We are in the Chinese TSA line- and a cop comes up and pulls our whole group out of line, then separates my friend and I, and we get escorted back to the check counter. They went and dug up all of our bags, and found his knife. They are MAD thinking we are smuggling things. We tell them to keep it, get our butts chewed out in Chinese, and are sent on our way. 3 cops are now following us all the time.

I am really ticked off, but just ready to get home. I am last in line to go through Chinese TSA, when the machine beeps on my bag. The agent opens it, and produces the "knife" which is little more than the pointy end of finger nail clippers for cutting gauze. I am mortified, and apologize, trying to explain. he says "YOU CANNOT TAKE!". I say I'm sorry, please throw it away, It is medical supplies.

He stands up and starts saying something very loudly, and a rather alarmed guy (stranger) behind me says "He is saying you have a knife!". The rest of my group is through security. The cops run at me, clearing everyone away, and I am detained and taken to a very small room at the end of a dark hallway. I wait 10 or so minutes alone, thinking "This is how I disappear. I'll never see my family again."

I explain the situation, they are not happy. I am threatened when 5-10 years in jail, accused of terrorism and spying (they were rather paranoid). Everything I brought with me is laid on the table and searched down to the stichcing. They make me open files and folders on my computer. Thank God I brought a clean laptop. I have to recount to them every single day of my trip, where I went, who I talked to, what I did, where I stayed (which they are comparing with our registered itenaraity).

I tell them I just want to go him to see my newborn son (who was 2 weeks old when I left). They question me, so I get my phone and show pictures. Finally convinced I am not a spy or terrorist, they give me a lecture about American arrogance and Chinese superiority, and send me on my way. All this is during the Beijing Olympics, so might explain some of it. We're were on the other side of China, though.
IDAGG
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It could have been worse. They could have made you eat a hundred year old egg.
cupofjoe04
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IDAGG said:

It could have been worse. They could have made you eat a hundred year old egg.
We did eat some pretty nasty stuff a couple times... but I didn't have the "privilege" of eating a century egg.
Boo Weekley
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IDAGG said:

It could have been worse. They could have made you eat a hundred year old egg.


Bro had this in Singapore. Looked absolutely disgusting from the pics, but he swears it wasn't bad.
chickencoupe16
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I know a guy who got to security, realized he had his pocket knife, and stuck it in his steel toe boot. Made it through on the departure and the return. Not smart at all, but it apparently worked. Kind of scary.

Another guy I know had basically the same thing happen but he buried his in a potted plant. Came back a week later, dug it up, and went on his way. I've always thought this is the way I would go if faced with the situation. A forgotten knife that is, not a gun.
Boo Weekley
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chickencoupe16 said:

I know a guy who got to security, realized he had his pocket knife, and stuck it in his steel toe boot. Made it through on the departure and the return. Not smart at all, but it apparently worked. Kind of scary.

Another guy I know had basically the same thing happen but he buried his in a potted plant. Came back a week later, dug it up, and went on his way. I've always thought this is the way I would go if faced with the situation. A forgotten knife that is, not a gun.


Unless a Glock of course. Glock could withstand the soil and water and still shoot reliably.
moore42
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CanyonAg77 said:

Quote:

Agreed. I don't understand why there is a fine at all. You either committed a crime or not, if you did, then it's jail time.

You think people with bad intentions will be deterred by a fine??

My interpretation? It's a way to slap you in the face for wasting their time. And if they can terrorize more people into being OCD about checking their own bags, it makes their job much, much easier. I suspect there is a ton of paperwork involved with finding a gun.

And don't discount their deep embarrassment when a gun does get through. They're fining you for "disrespecting" them.
What I was told at the time of my incident is that the entire airport shuts down until the "threat" is neutralized. The fine is only a portion of the costs of that inconvenience to airlines, airport, etc.

In my case, it seemed like an eternity as I was escorted away in hand cuffs, but in reality, it couldnt have been more than 2-3 minutes from discovery to arrest to escort into a secure area.
aggiepublius
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I came back from a trip and realized that I had one of those key shaped multi-tools on my key chain. I figured that if they had found it, it would have been confiscated or I would have to mail it back.

Then one day I see on the Ask TSA IG* account a post stating that these count as a concealed knife and are treated differently.

https://instagr.am/p/xxhVGGF9-V


* If you haven't looked at the Ask TSA Instagram, it is down right scary what a few of our fellow flyers try to carry on the plane. Grenades, Fake claymores, Salt shakers made from 40mm grenade shells,

https://instagr.am/p/BV0OJ5dDJ_f

https://instagr.am/p/BMFREIjhXEy

https://instagr.am/p/BtlkOpdF8_N
cupofjoe04
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Cool stuff, thanks for sharing.


On an aside- I wonder why that TSA firearms may only shows airports in the south(ish)? Nothing from west coast or north east- when I absolutely sure there were firearms discovered in those places as well. Even if they were lower numbers, the point of the post (appeared) to be to brag about how effective TSA is. Showing all airports would only help that.
Strange...
AgLA06
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aggiepublius said:




* If you haven't looked at the Ask TSA Instagram, it is down right scary what a few of our fellow flyers try to carry on the plane. Grenades, Fake claymores, Salt shakers made from 40mm grenade shells,





Why is a salt shaker scary?
ToHntortoFsh
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The fine is a civil fine and not a criminal fine. Therefore no intent is required to levy it against you.
That was one of the very first things the guy I spoke with on the phone said, actually I think it was the first. He was a really decent guy and had all the info about my flight. Basically said "I see your flight was at 5:15am (or whatever) so that means you woke up around three grabbed your stuff in the dark and didn't even think about the weapon."
"America is a nation that can be defined in a single word:

Asufutimaehaehfutbw"
 
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