My brush with TSA

[Mace Canute]

The ridiculous part of TSA confiscating nail clippers from a woman who is " 89 years old, probably weighed 85 pounds, retired 2nd grade school teacher" is that some people seem to think that she could pose a threat to anybody.

People who deal with REAL potential terrorists (Israelis) laugh at TSA and their asinine rules.

 

[Mounted Madness]

The ridiculous part of TSA confiscating nail clippers from a woman who is " 89 years old, probably weighed 85 pounds, retired 2nd grade school teacher" is that some people seem to think that she could pose a threat to anybody.

People who deal with REAL potential terrorists (Israelis) laugh at TSA and their asinine rules.

It has been said many many times that the TSA and our Canadian equivalent is nothing more then window dressing. It gives the impression that preventive action is in place and your safety is assured. What a crock.

The Israelis profile from the moment someone enters the parking lot...let alone the airport proper. Nothing has gotten by them. Too many questions along the way...and what do bad guys hate...being asked questions by authorities while on the way to a crime...particularly if it is constant as you get closer to the crime and you are in a fully controlled environment.

Regarding the assessment that it must be working since there has been no similar attacks like 9/11, IMO it has more to do with the investigative re-focus and intelligence resources that has been thrown at potential threats. When was the last time TSA actually stopped a terrorist plot at the airport. Keep in mind that box cutters were used in 9/11 and there was a requirement then not to have weapons in your custody...but box cutters weren't dangerous?????? Lesson horrifically learned.

My father was stopped by a security bonehead when he repeated what previous security had said about his video camera in his carry on, as it went through Xray. Previous security guy said it looks like a gun. Not thinking, my father repeated it at the next airport as his bag went through Xray. He was subsequently charged with an offence under the air piracy statutes. This was over 20 years ago.

Finally he was discharged at court, but the stress was significant and he could have been put on the carriers no fly list. That's what happens when third world, english second language and minimal education had contracts with the airports to provide the security.

Airport security has its uses, and DOES need to be there, but they aren't the ones actually stopping air piracy...its intelligence sources, eavesdropping, and old fashioned leg work. Political correctness prevents North Americans from actually profiling. If it looks like a duck...it probably is...

'nuff said

 

[mjncad]

The Israelis profile from the moment someone enters the parking lot...let alone the airport proper.

...

Political correctness prevents North Americans from actually profiling. If it looks like a duck...it probably is...

'nuff said

Heaven forbid we profile...oh my it may hurt some terrorist's feelings and damage their psyche. Political Correctness is a cancer in our society.

 

[Bird]

She lost her nail file. You are suggesting, for her sake, so she could keep it, a whole new class of rules, requiring a whole set of judgement trees, should be enacted. Surely you are the one who is kidding.

The TSA has gotten a bad reputation, unfairly. To repeat:

The US has not had a TSA related terrorist incident since 9/11. That is amazing.

The loss of the nail file was inconsequential. And I certainly never meant to imply that all the TSA employees are bad in any way. I've no doubt at all that they, just as any other large group, have both good and bad.

I blame the top level of management that makes the silly rules. And I realize I may be wrong, even there, because they may be forced by the current political correctness climate to do so.

Yep, profiling is now a dirty word, when every law enforcement officer in the world (yes, I mean "world"; not just this country) was probably trained to profile years ago.

You say there's not been a TSA related terrorist related incident. Well, to the best of my knowledge, there's not been a terrorist related incident by an 89 year old woman even before TSA existed.

In fact, of all the people flying, or attempting to fly, what percentage might be terrorists? So we not only inconvenience the entire flying population to avoid "profiling", but spend millions of dollars to do it.

 

[dynasim]

If you all believe that the TSA doesn't profile, you don't fly. If a person has certain characteristics, they thoroughly go through their bags, and give him a complete pat down, and cross check his ID. I can pick them out as soon as I get in line.

I fly every week, and I see it at least a dozen times.

If it were known that 89 year old grandmothers got a free pass through security, that would be utilized for something bad. It is the nature of the utterly ruthless. There are a lot of morally bankrupt 89 year olds.

The example of condmening the TSA for enforcing a easily managed, easily followed, and easily enforced rule is utterly absurd. I will not say another thing on this subject, but I would caution you to contemplate what your are asking for.

You say that you did not imply anything bad about TSA employees. You called them stupid. Enough said.

Chris

 

[Bird]

Chris, you need to go back and read the thread again. I didn't call them stupid, but I did say they do some stupid things, and that is a fact; not all of them, or even a majority of them, but some do.

And you say they profile. Would any of them admit it?:laughing: Of course they profile to some extent, but not as an official documented policy.

 

[TripleR]

If you have so much faith in the TSA and give them credit for no terrorist attacks, Bing or Google "TSA Security Breaches". A friend of mine was an Air Marshall and you wouldn't believe what all goes on.

I agree completely with Bird and know he has a long history in Law Enforcement, so he knows what he is talking about.

 

[hawkeye08]

You're kidding, right? An 89 year old woman should have known she couldn't take a nail file with her? And if the rules are so simple and the TSA personnel follow the rules, why did they not take the nail file when she left California?

I've even heard airline pilots complain about that mess, and if anyone should know the rules, it seems the pilots would.

I agree the individuals should not feel compelled to debate their actions; just as police officers should not. But it is nice when they have management that uses a little common sense in setting the rules. But sometimes that just doesn't happen.

But at least as far as the TSA is concerned, I don't think I have to worry about it, since I have no expectation of ever flying on a commercial airline again. It'll be a dire emergency if I do and I hope that never happens.:laughing:

I do occasionally have to take someone to the airport or pick up someone there, and get to see that ridiculous mess.

Bird, since so many folks are afraid of profiling, the 89 yr old is treated the same as the 23 yr old. Seriously, if the 89 yr old was allowed to pass with nail file, then what stops a terrorist from using his 89 yr old grandmother to smuggle his weapon?

Perhaps since you got away with speeding last time, you should not get a ticket this time? It is not a 100% system for sure.

 

[hawkeye08]

Regarding the original post, if you were told you could pick up your magazine on your return from the police dept but not the bullets, why not just let them take the bullets and keep the magazine originally? Is it against the rules to have an empty magazine in your carry on? I don't recall if that could be considered a weapon...

 

[Pixguy]

I didn'e see where anyone said that Nana shouldn't go through the same protocol as we usually have, but let's not pat them or the child down while letting single one-way flying men pass through without a second look. (I sometimes fly one way and never have gotten stopped)