My brush with TSA

BoFuller · Aug 2, 2011

About two months ago I was tired of the AZ heat and I had the barber give me a very short flattop haircut. Several people at work say I look like a Marine recruiter. Even though I'm 62, I work out and am in good shape. My wife has been teasing me about the haircut, but when we walked away from the TSA area to go board the plane, I told her it was the haircut that did it.

Now the funny part. Upon arriving at LA and driving to my son's house, who is also a police officer, we were telling him the story, and when we got to the end, he said as serious as can be, "it's the haircut". My wife couldn't believe he said that since I had said the same thing. Then he said, "really, they figured you were an old jarhead and decided to cut you a break." Who knows, but my wife no longer teases me about the haircut! :thumbsup:

robbyr · Aug 2, 2011

durn if i aint considering a flattop now to see if my luck will get better. ha. that is a funny story though

mjncad · Aug 2, 2011

Maybe this Longmont, Colorado woman should get a buzzcut because she was popped at Sky Harbor as she returned a TSA (Temps Standing Around ) "Grope a Dope" favor.

Longmont Woman Draws National Attention In TSA Groping Case CBS Denver

Chilly807 · Aug 2, 2011

I had a similar experience in Halifax with our version of the TSA. I was on my way through security checks before boarding a flight to Montreal, lit up the metal detector like a Christmas tree.

It turned out I had, out of habit, clipped my folding Gerber knife back in my pocket instead of packing it in the checked luggage.

I was surprised at how accommodating the young lady doing the security screen was, she suggested I go back out in the main airport and mail it to myself at the postal kiosk, since my wife had already left for home.

I figured I'd end up losing the knife, since making the flight was more important than keeping it. The line was pretty long for screening, and although I had allowed plenty time for a normal evolution, finding a post office, mailing a knife to myself, and going through security again was going to make it a bit tight on time.

She told me I'd already spent my time waiting in line for one day, and to use the flight crew security line, with her permission.

I thought it was pretty good of her to help me as much as she could while still preserving the safety of other passengers. Maybe my expression when I discovered that I was still carrying the knife, despite best intentions otherwise helped.

My wife had a chuckle when the package arrived, though.

The mayor of Halifax did something like that too, come to think of it. He picked up a 9mm round that was on the ground on one of his walks (not something you usually find in Halifax!) and slipped it in his pocket to drop off with the police dept. Forgot it was there and tried to go through airport security. Or not... took some explaining and made the news here.

Sean

Brad_Blazer · Aug 2, 2011

A few years ago I arrived in Japan and while I was going through my carry-on computer backpack I found my full-size Leatherman tool laying in the bottom. I'm glad it wasn't confiscated but it was a little scary that they didn't catch it. I guess it looked like a solid block on the scanner.

jdonovan · Aug 2, 2011

BoFuller said:
I usually take my computer with me when I go to the Ranch on the weekends and I sometimes slip the firearm and mags into my computer bag.

You're not the only one who has made this mistake.

We now advise people to have dedicated range bags and avoid 'dual use' bags for anything firearm related.

Had you inadvertently brought the firearm with you, it might have lead to a felony charge, and possible conviction which would be very life altering.

TripleR · Aug 2, 2011

Never underestimate the importance of attitude/demeanor and appearance when dealing with Law Enforcement. I am sure all those as well as your age, I am 64, were a factor in the positive outcome, but probably the most important factor was an experienced professional Law Enforcement Officer. Proper use of "Officer Discretion" seems to be one of the hardest things for many in Law Enforcement to master, but it is one of the most important.

Hard to beat a Sig:thumbsup:

BoFuller · Aug 2, 2011

TripleR said:
Never underestimate the importance of attitude/demeanor and appearance when dealing with Law Enforcement. I am sure all those as well as your age, I am 64, were a factor in the positive outcome, but probably the most important factor was an experienced professional Law Enforcement Officer. Proper use of "Officer Discretion" seems to be one of the hardest things for many in Law Enforcement to master, but it is one of the most important.

Hard to beat a Sig:thumbsup:

I am sure that attitude and demeanor played a big role. I went from cocky and annoyed to humble and petrified in a split second. I'm sure the TSA people have some good stories about that. "You should have seen this guys face!"

BoFuller · Aug 2, 2011

For some reason it took the TSA guys about 15-20 minutes to get the rounds out of the mag. They naturally wouldn't let me help, but at the end after the PD said I could go, the TSA super asked me "How do you get rounds out of this? We had the hardest time." I said, "I have never emptied one by hand, I shoot them out". I wasn't trying to be funny but we all busted out laughing. :laughing: