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Transportation Security

TSA Has Record-Breaking Haul In 2014: Guns, Cannons, and Swords 276

An anonymous reader writes The TSA has gathered an impressive pile of confiscated weapons this year. In early November the agency had already discovered 1,855 firearms at checkpoints. In addition to guns, they've also collected machetes, hatchets, swords, giant scissors, brass knuckles, cannonballs, bear repellent and, this past October, an unloaded cannon. "Maybe someone has a lucky inert grenade they brought back from some war, or a nice cane was given to them and they forgot that the thing is actually a sword," said Jeff Price, author of Practical Aviation Security, "It's the people that are carrying stuff like chainsaws that make me wonder."
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TSA Has Record-Breaking Haul In 2014: Guns, Cannons, and Swords

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  • Chainsaws? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22, 2014 @01:35PM (#48653001)

    You mean people who work for tree removal services? That makes you wonder?

    We had a bad ice storm here last year, I personally know about a dozen people who flew in with their chainsaws to help with cleanup, and pocket sacks of cash since just about every tree in town was damaged.

    • by Z00L00K ( 682162 )

      Well - I assume that they could be checked in as ordinary luggage as long as they don't have any fuel in them, but if people get them as carry-on luggage it's a tad unusual.

    • At Hartsfield (ATL) there was a display of items people have tried to bring onto planes. It includes lawnmowers, chainsaws, gas cans and all kinds of stuff. I don't know if it's still there or not but it was mind blowing.

      • by NoNonAlphaCharsHere ( 2201864 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @02:06PM (#48653319)
        Cannons, chainsaws, swords... Feh, that's nothing. I was on a flight recently where some terrist tried to get on board with 16 ounces of shampoo!!! Luckily, the alert and quick-thinking TSA guardians of public safety caught him before he could cause any gory deaths.
        • don't remind me. I had to get rid of two cokes I bought at a place next to my gate at Shipol in October. I bought them so I'd have something for the flight. Talk about retarded security! People think the TSA can be bad but try a bunch of no-nothing subcontractors overseas trying to interpret the latest panic directives.

        • by hawguy ( 1600213 )

          Cannons, chainsaws, swords... Feh, that's nothing. I was on a flight recently where some terrist tried to get on board with 16 ounces of shampoo!!! Luckily, the alert and quick-thinking TSA guardians of public safety caught him before he could cause any gory deaths.

          I was behind a guy that tried to bring not one, but *two* bottles of shampoo. The TSA agent was going to make him throw them out but he said "But these are from my doctor and very expensive". TSA said, "do you have a prescription for these?" He replied "yes," then they let him take the bottles through with no further questions. The shampoo didn't have any special labels to indicate it was prescription, looked like the faux "professional" shampoo in a white bottle you can buy at any hair salon. Apparently on

        • by bill_mcgonigle ( 4333 ) * on Monday December 22, 2014 @03:26PM (#48654045) Homepage Journal

          Those bastards got six quarts of used motor oil and thirty seven dead CFL's from me!

      • by Anonymous Coward on Monday December 22, 2014 @02:10PM (#48653349)

        Tell me about it. I once saw a group of folks try to board a flight with their dignity intact. The TSA confiscated it all.

    • by PPH ( 736903 )

      "The beauty of a chainsaw is that you don't have to start it. Just show up with it."
      -- Joe Walsh, on checking in to hotels

    • In their carry on though?
    • by rlp ( 11898 )

      Of course, how else can one be ready for a mid-air zombie apocalypse.

      • Watching the "Zombies On A Plane" movie should be requirement for all air travelers. You don't want to be that poor zombie stuck in a aisle seat and biting at everything that passes by because you can't unbuckle the seat belt.
    • Right because you never know when a tree will need removing on board a plane in mid-flight.

  • by sideslash ( 1865434 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @01:40PM (#48653039)
    These were items confiscated, i.e. stolen from citizens. Heaven forbid that American citizens think they have a right to keep and bear arms. Bearing arms is the mark of a terrorist. Not the kind of terrorist who actually blows up buildings or shoots people, mind you, rather just one who plays the part of "Terrorist" in the Security Theater.
    • by ianbnet ( 214952 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @01:47PM (#48653105)

      Wow. I mean, I travel a ton and get annoyed by the TSA as much as the next guy, but you really think it's OK to take a gun onto an airplane? Agree to disagree. People who need to transport their legally owned firearms can do so through the simple act of checking them. There isn't an airline or country the world over that would allow firearms, not to mention loaded _with rounds chambered_ (FTFA) onto a plane.

      We can argue all we want to about the cannon (I'm with the anon who thinks if you manage to hijack a plane with it... congrats!), but guns, grenades, large knives... just check it! This isn't a terrorism thing. It's basic safety 101, especially in an already stressful, crowded environment.

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by itzly ( 3699663 )

        you really think it's OK to take a gun onto an airplane

        Not much worse than taking a gun to a shopping mall or movie theater, actually.

        • by cold fjord ( 826450 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @01:54PM (#48653187)

          Shopping malls don't tend to depressurize when punctured.

          • by FatLittleMonkey ( 1341387 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @02:02PM (#48653265)

            Shopping malls don't tend to depressurize when punctured.

            Neither do aircraft.

            The pressurisation pumps are more than capable of keeping up with the amount of air leaking through a thumb-sized hole.

            • I'd just be concerned with the amount of air trying to escape through a small opening and demanding an increase in throughput by pressure at a weakened structure, potentially leading to getting its way and creating an opening large enough to let objects larger than bullets pass.

            • Until there are 4 or 5 thumb sized holes, or a hole the size of a window

              Plus no one has ever piloted a shopping mall into a building
              • by itzly ( 3699663 )
                After 9/11, people aren't going to let anybody take over a plane, even if they're carrying a gun.
          • The danger is not depressurisation, the danger is damage to the flight control systems, damage to the electrical systems, punching holes in fuel tanks (and probably making a bit of sparking and friction heat while at it), puncturing a landing wheel and the like. There are many, many ways a small hole in a vital part can endanger or even disable a modern airliner. Add to that the danger of a sleep deprived, stressed out person on a red-eye shooting an innocent he believed to be a terrorist, or just that f-i

          • An airliner isn't going to depressurize from something like a bullet hole either. Now if a large bomb blows a 3 meter hole in the fuselage, that'll depressurize and people's ears will pop painfully. The pressurization air is the same compressed air that provides 85% of the forward thrust of provided by it's two 54,000 lb thrust engines.

            Here's how much air is available:
            http://code7700.com/videos/top... [code7700.com]

            If the airliner is at maximum altitude when the large chunk of fuselage is removed and the cabin loses pre

          • by tibit ( 1762298 )

            Still, it's not catastrophic. All that will happen is the masks dropping, the pilots having to don theirs quickly, lowering the altitude, and that's about it. Nobody should die if you merely shoot out through the fuselage.

        • There are valid circumstances to fire a gun there. AFAIK there are no valid circumstances for firing a normal pistol in an airborne airplane.

          • by itzly ( 3699663 )
            Who says they're going to fire the gun ? Most gun carrying folks in the US rarely fire it in public.
      • We can argue all we want to about the cannon (I'm with the anon who thinks if you manage to hijack a plane with it... congrats!)

        You know nothing. You put the cannons at the windows, and shoot at the wings of the other planes. Once they are hit, you throw hooks to hijack and loot! That's how to pirate an airship.

      • You're welcome to your opinion that the 2nd Amendment was a mistake.
      • by Trachman ( 3499895 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @02:01PM (#48653245) Journal

        If someone had a gun on September 11, 2001 perhaps the history would be different. In Soviet Russia all pilots were armed, and rightly so.

        I travel and every day I see pocket knifes, souvenir knifes being stolen at the checkpoints. The other day my credit card size stainless steel multi-tool (ruler, screwdriver, wrench and a 2 centimeter cutting edge) has been confiscated because it had a less than one inch "blade". Yikes.

        Every single day passengers bring bottles of whiskey and other alcohol in the glass bottles, which is essentially a ceramic blade/knife, if the bottle is broken. Heck, you can buy alcohol in the airplane.

        I have interviewed several airport security directors and directors supplying security solutions. All of them, in private, agreed that this is a security theater.

        • by firewrought ( 36952 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @02:53PM (#48653753)

          I travel and every day I see pocket knifes, souvenir knifes being stolen at the checkpoints. The other day my credit card size stainless steel multi-tool (ruler, screwdriver, wrench and a 2 centimeter cutting edge) has been confiscated because it had a less than one inch "blade". Yikes.

          To be fair, John Pistole (the TSA head) tried to drop this restriction and permit knifes with blades <= 2.36 inches, but transportation workers, victims groups, and various congressmen thru a hissy-fit [usatoday.com], so he was forced to drop it.

          2.36 inches!! Land of the brave, my arse.

        • by Carewolf ( 581105 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @03:10PM (#48653919) Homepage

          If someone had a gun on September 11, 2001 perhaps the history would be different. In Soviet Russia all pilots were armed, and rightly so.

          I travel and every day I see pocket knifes, souvenir knifes being stolen at the checkpoints. The other day my credit card size stainless steel multi-tool (ruler, screwdriver, wrench and a 2 centimeter cutting edge) has been confiscated because it had a less than one inch "blade". Yikes.

          Every single day passengers bring bottles of whiskey and other alcohol in the glass bottles, which is essentially a ceramic blade/knife, if the bottle is broken. Heck, you can buy alcohol in the airplane.

          I have interviewed several airport security directors and directors supplying security solutions. All of them, in private, agreed that this is a security theater.

          No it wouldn't. It wasn't a problem to fight against the hobby knives unarmed either, no one expected the hijackers to be suicide terrorist, and the only thing that would make a difference is hind-sight.

        • by Jason Levine ( 196982 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @03:45PM (#48654171) Homepage

          If someone had a gun on September 11, 2001 perhaps the history would be different.

          Pre-911 being hijacked meant "If you sit down and be quiet, we fly this plane to Cuba, protest for a bit and then everyone goes free. An inconvenience, but nobody gets hurt. If you try to fight back, you'll be killed." So even if someone had a gun in the first two planes, they would have likely kept quiet until it was too late.

          The passengers in the third plane did try to shoot back when they found out what happened to the first two planes, but a passenger with a gun might not have made much of a difference. At that point, the terrorists had control of the airplane and even a gun wouldn't have given the passengers the upper hand quick enough to keep the terrorists from crashing the plane.

          Nowadays, if someone tries to hijack a plane - even if they intend the "flight to Cuba" kind of hijacking - the passengers are going to rise up, guns or no guns.

      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        by tompaulco ( 629533 )

        People who need to transport their legally owned firearms can do so through the simple act of checking them.

        There is about the same chance of a gun getting discovered by the TSA at checkpoint as there is of getting your gun discovered in luggage. However, the chances of them confiscating it if discovered at the checkpoint is 100%, while the chance of TSA stealing it out of your luggage is probably only about 1/4 or an 1/8th of that. Statistics say that you should check your gun, because 80% or so of the time, it will not get stolen.
        Unfortunately, in this day and age, you really should carry on anything worth mo

      • Except that.. (Score:5, Interesting)

        by s.petry ( 762400 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @02:09PM (#48653339)

        These people are generally not bringing their gun on an airplane because they want to shoot someone (I can't vouch for everyone's intent). These are people that probably have a valid conceal carry permit, don't normally fly, and just worked out of habit only to have their stuff confiscated. Meaning, that while it was an error they can't get their stuff back.

        Do I find an inert hand grenade paperweight to be a terribly frightening weapon? Nope, but the TSA does and confiscates those too. Gag items like giant scissors are not a threat either, well maybe if they were sharpened in in the hands of Chuck Norris (who would be a threat without the giant scissors). A "cannon ball" is not a threat without, well.. a cannon and a good amount of black powder.

        Maybe the term "mens rea" is lost on you, but it has been a critical part of western legal systems for centuries. At least until recently anyway. IMHO this is just the TSA trying to A) Justify their job. and B) Attempt to humor us in that attempt.

        • Maybe they figured cannonball guy and the guy with the cannon were in cahoots.

        • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

          by Shakrai ( 717556 )

          These are people that probably have a valid conceal carry permit, don't normally fly, and just worked out of habit only to have their stuff confiscated. Meaning, that while it was an error they can't get their stuff back.

          If you forget that you're carrying a firearm you probably shouldn't have a concealed carry permit in the first place I say this as a Second Amendment supporter and holder of a concealed carry license in a State (New York) where it's pretty damned hard to get them. What excuse is there for neglecting to remember the fact that you're carrying a firearm?

          I concur with your sentiment about meas rea, FWIW, but still....

        • Actually, that's a good point. Do they let Chuck Norris onto an airplane?

      • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

        by Anonymous Coward

        IMO all adults (with exemptions for handicapped and/or mentally disabled) should be *required* to carry a handgun on an airplane. If everyone is armed, the terrorists have no standing at all.

        Rentals should be made available at the terminal, for people who don't own guns or forgot to bring theirs.

        • Archie Bunker said it best. 'When you get on the plane, the stewardess should hand out pistols. When you land she should collect them.'

      • People took guns on planes for DECADES without incident. It wasnt until some jackasses with box cutters that guns were banned.
      • People who need to transport their legally owned firearms can do so through the simple act of checking them.

        WHOOOOOSH!!!

        That was GP's whole point: anybody stupid enough (or forgetful enough) to try to carry something like this onto a plane just isn't much of a threat.

      • There isn't an airline or country the world over that would allow firearms, not to mention loaded _with rounds chambered

        US Marshalls carry on planes, some airlines have firearms in the cockpit.

        http://www.tsa.gov/about-tsa/law-enforcement-officers-flying-armed

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Air_Marshal_Service

        So it would seem for someone that travels a ton you are blissfully unaware that there is a high probability that flights you are on have a firearm inside the cabin with you.

      • i'd be more concerned with turbulence. you're going to stow that chunk of solid metal in the overhead? that thing ever pops out of that bin, and it will kill someone, no might or maybes about it. also, what kind of lunatic would think that that would pass muster?

    • I know what you mean. Just why the hell can't we bring chainsaws onto the 747!? Have they gone mental? When is the last time that a terrorist with a chainsaw took over an aircraft? Please! Anyone with half a brain knows there is no way you could really run with it either, the isles are too narrow. Besides, who would notice it in operation over the crying babies? What on earth happened to our freedom!?

      • Leaking gas for one thing. Same reason you shouldn't carry propane stoves, gas fueled lanterns or any number of potentially hazardous devices.

    • by Xenx ( 2211586 )
      I agree that most of what the TSA does is BS. That being said, it's perfectly reasonable to restrict weapons onboard flights. It's also not up to the TSA as to whether the weapons are confiscated. That is up to local laws and law enforcement.
    • Most airports let you mail the items back home now. It's only confiscated if it's not worth the cost to mail it back.

      The stuff on their prohibited list is pretty silly though. They wouldn't let me bring a piano tuning wrench in my carry on. It's basically a fixed socket wrench about 12 inches long, no sharp edges or points so can't be used for jabbing/prying like a screwdriver, and designed to be lightweight so you couldn't use it like a hammer. But there's some rule prohibiting tools over 8 inches,
      • >so I had to pay 25% of what a new one cost to check in my carry-on bag.

        Bingo! That's why people carry stuff on that they would otherwise check. Airlines started charging for checked bags.

    • by Ksevio ( 865461 )
      If they were terrorists, the TSA probably should have done something like stopped them from getting on the airplane and calling law enforcement. It's somewhat ridiculous to think that there are potential terrorists getting on planes and all we're doing about them is throwing their bombs in the trash before the board.
  • by SlashDread ( 38969 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @01:50PM (#48653147)

    zero.

  • Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @01:57PM (#48653215)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • poverty: americans got to take their looming debt

      The debt is a joke, because it's denominated in dollars. It's not going to destroy the economy, it'll just be annoying inflation like the 70s again. Of course, if you own government bonds that won't make you feel better.

  • by SysKoll ( 48967 ) on Monday December 22, 2014 @02:00PM (#48653239)

    From the paternalist, condescending article: Beyond firearms, of course, TSA officers encounter an extremely wide variety of other prohibited items at airport checkpoints, including ... an unloaded cannon.

    Because archeologist or collectors should absolutely check in priceless historical artifacts! It's not like baggage handler would steal anything, or the airlines would lose luggage, ho ho, how silly.

    Hey, this thing was a firearm once, right? So it's totally justified, innit? Even though the picture even shows that the thing is rusty, unable to fire, and very old.

    Do you know how funny it is in Dilbert cartoon when the PHB adopts a tone of condescending smugness to assert misinformed, ill-reasoned opinions? Well, somehow, these bureaucrats don't manage to make it funny.

    • by zlives ( 2009072 )

      I have had almond butter confiscated... so reason has nothing to do with it.

      • I had the same happen with soy butter (for someone with a peanut allergy). The can was opened and some was eaten. I was bringing it back home to give to my son (who was too young to eat peanut products at the time). TSA insisted that the flowing substance was considered liquid and could be dangerous. Luckily, my parents were nearby (were seeing me off) and were allowed to take it back to their house (where it could at least be used) instead of letting it be thrown away.

        I'm sure a wanna-be-terrorist woul

    • when the PHB adopts a tone of condescending smugness to assert misinformed, ill-reasoned opinions?

      Gygax could come across like that sometimes...

    • My question is how they were planning on carrying the canon. Is that really something that fits underneath a chair or in a baggage compartment?
  • Disappointed my slingshot did not make the list this year. Piss.
  • Anyone who tries to take a gun or chainsaw on a plane is a moron, but making people leave their nail clippers etc is bullshit.
    What about martial artists who's hands alone are far more lethal than some stupid pointy keyring? How come they dont stop them from flying? I'm surprised that the TSA hasn't already tried to make everyone fly in handcuffs.

  • TSA trying oh so very hard to appear effective.

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