[Infowarrior] - Kafka-esque security decision

[Richard Forno]

Granted if you don't know you're carrying a loaded firearm somewhere you
might have other issues, but besides that ---- think about it: on one hand,
you forgot to declare that you had a loaded gun at the airport.  Then when
you voluntarily go back to declare it and remedy your forgetfulness, you're
arrested.

Sure speaks volumes about individuals trying to "do the right thing" post
9/11, eh?

-rf




Loaded gun slips through airport security

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A passenger who went through an airport security
checkpoint -- before remembering that he had a loaded gun -- is facing
charges after going back to report his error, authorities said.

Gregory Scott Hinkle, 53, of Davis, West Virginia, went through a
Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport about 7:30 a.m. Sunday, an airport spokeswoman
said.

After the traveler evidently recalled having the gun, he returned to the
checkpoint and disclosed the weapon, authorities said.

The TSA contacted airport police, who charged the man with possessing or
transporting a firearm into an air carrier terminal where prohibited, a
misdemeanor, and released him. He is scheduled to appear April 2 in
Arlington County, Virginia, General District Court.

Hinkle did not immediately return a phone call to his residence.

A TSA spokesman said the agency reviewed airport surveillance camera videos
of the incident and removed the screener from security duties while an
investigation is under way.

"Appropriate actions will be taken once the investigation is complete,"
spokesman Christopher White said.

White said that 14 guns were discovered at checkpoints around the country
last week. On average, screeners find two guns a day, he said.

"We know this is not a systemic problem in that our testing indicates TSOs
[Transportation Security Officers] have a very high success rate at finding
firearms. Given the high degree of reliability that our TSOs can find even
carefully concealed firearms, we are evaluating every aspect of this
incident," White said.

CNN's Mike M. Ahlers contributed to this report.


 
Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/01/23/airport.gun/index.html