Florida Teen Detained by TSA for Gun Design on Her Purse

[Texas42]

For the most part, maybe. But for no good reason, one of them decided to take a waist strap off my backpack a few years ago in up-state New York. I didn't notice until I was at the other end of the country.

And how can they pull an old woman out of a wheel chair for a pat-down? I think a lack of decency is required to work for TSA.

Yeah, saw 80+ year old couple getting the full pat-down today. . . .

 

[hkusp1]

The really sad and retarded part of the tsa is that they won't hire people who are potentially the best for the job because they are free thinkers and don't believe in hassling the general public. I applied to the tsa just for shits and giggles one time as an aso made it all the way through to the physical and they asked if I was color blind and right when I said yes they told me to leave because they won't hire a person who has a color vision deficiency because they pose a threat to other people while using a firearm.

 

[pretzel]

a few years ago they took a small harley knife from me. I had forgotten I had it in my pocket. It made me so mad , I havent been on a plane since. I know Im narrow minded but I have a right to be that way!

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

This is ridiculous.

<slight derail>
I still don't get why planes are so special. What about large events? What about the tons of other targets where even greater numbers of people can be killed?

The amount of resources we waste on the airplane/airport security is ridiculous. You'd think we be doing some real risk assessments and covering the risks with the largest likelihood and impact.

If we're going to be objective about it only 3,000 people died on 9/11. How many do you think would die if someone poisoned a municipal water supply or caused a meltdown at a nuclear reactor near a major city. What about attacks on any given Cowboys game with tens of thousands of people there? What about some small group / individual buying some RPGs in Mexico and bringing them over the US border?

I think our security priorities are ill-conceived, based on entrenched bureaucratic thinking, and need to be reassessed. We don't need some clowns at the airport taking our toothpaste and nail clippers, we need real human intel resources.
<\slight derail>

 

[TrailDust]

I remember going through security at Dulles International a couple of years ago, where I was wanded and patted down and my 83-year-old father was taken into an adjacent "private screening room" to be partially strip searched because he had a pacemaker. Meanwhile, a Sikh immediately ahead of us in line was allowed to walk right through the metal detector with no additional wanding of his turban, nor was he taken to the "private screening room" so that his turban could be removed and checked for what....a plastic knife?...plastic explosives?....flammable liquid? Nope, he went through free as a bird!

That is a true story, and it really does make you wonder what the real purpose of the TSA is....

 

[Bithabus]

This is ridiculous.

<slight derail>
I still don't get why planes are so special. What about large events? What about the tons of other targets where even greater numbers of people can be killed?

The amount of resources we waste on the airplane/airport security is ridiculous. You'd think we be doing some real risk assessments and covering the risks with the largest likelihood and impact.

If we're going to be objective about it only 3,000 people died on 9/11. How many do you think would die if someone poisoned a municipal water supply or caused a meltdown at a nuclear reactor near a major city. What about attacks on any given Cowboys game with tens of thousands of people there? What about some small group / individual buying some RPGs in Mexico and bringing them over the US border?

I think our security priorities are ill-conceived, based on entrenched bureaucratic thinking, and need to be reassessed. We don't need some clowns at the airport taking our toothpaste and nail clippers, we need real human intel resources.
<\slight derail>

Security theater at the airports isn't about security.

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

Security theater at the airports isn't about security.

"Security theater" I'm going to steal that. It's truly all it is.

 

[Rum Runner]

Security theater at the airports isn't about security.

Here we have the real answer. The public stopped flying after 9/11. Something had to be done to make the public feel safe and save the airline industry. Yet another stealth bailout that we pay for. Joe Dope sees this kind of BS as tight security and even though he may be outraged, he feels safer. Meanwhile there are many simple ways to get a weapon on a plane and many venues that are a much better target and less defended than an airplane if mass casualties are your goal.

Security Theater. So true.

 

[M. Sage]

Here we have the real answer. The public stopped flying after 9/11. Something had to be done to make the public feel safe and save the airline industry. Yet another stealth bailout that we pay for. Joe Dope sees this kind of BS as tight security and even though he may be outraged, he feels safer. Meanwhile there are many simple ways to get a weapon on a plane and many venues that are a much better target and less defended than an airplane if mass casualties are your goal.

Security Theater. So true.

I saw estimates that the airline industry was going to see a 3% decline this holiday season, while roads were going to see a 2% increase.

I don't think TSA is exactly helping the airlines out.

 

[TrailDust]

I've set a personal policy that if I need to travel 1,200 miles or less, I'm driving. I've already taken two trips based on that criteria and it's a much better experience.

 

[Bithabus]

I've set a personal policy that if I need to travel 1,200 miles or less, I'm driving. I've already taken two trips based on that criteria and it's a much better experience.

+1

For me, the cut off is 12 hours driving time unless I just have to be somewhere. I only fly when I have no other practical choice.

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

If you've got to fly East coast to West coast multiple times in a week there's not a choice. You either get raped financially by private jet or physically by the TSA. I wish private cost less; without exception its always been a better experience.

 

[Bithabus]

If you've got to fly East coast to West coast multiple times in a week there's not a choice. You either get raped financially by private jet or physically by the TSA. I wish private cost less; without exception its always been a better experience.

"I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing."

 

[atticus]

I no longer fly. I like airplanes just fine, it's the airport ordeal I'm unwilling to subject myself to. I refuse.

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

"I'm talking about liquid. Rich enough to have your own jet. Rich enough not to waste time. Fifty, a hundred million dollars, buddy. A player. Or nothing."

LOL, I wish that was me. I just get the shitty flying piece without the big $$$.

 

[TrailDust]

I no longer fly. I like airplanes just fine, it's the airport ordeal I'm unwilling to subject myself to. I refuse.

I don't blame you one bit, not a single bit.