The TSA Cut My Locks
BY Herschel Smith
5 years ago
From reddit/firearms.
I was called over the intercom ~2 minutes before people started boarding. I was asked to hand over my key so they could bring it to TSA as they needed to get into my bag. I was not allowed to accompany the key. I made it clear that I am not comfortable with their systematic way of committing felonies; however, this is common practice at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, please see this inquiry which I sent to TSA as both a Security Issue and a Request for Information on November 22nd (anticipating they may ask for the key again).*
A person from Southwest brought the key to TSA and ~10 minutes later another man from Southwest came back with both my spare locks and the key to my original locks. He asked me if I could unlock the spares so they could put them on the case as TSA had cut my other locks. He also stated, “They thought there was a gun in there.” To which I replied, “There are… that’s why I declared them.”
In my opinion the TSA at this airport is guilty of a felony. It is against the law to turn over access to a firearm to someone you don’t know and who is not under your control.
It also disagrees with the TSA’s own rules, where the only person who is allowed to have a key to the lock is the firearm owner.
As I’ve said before, the TSA is an irredeemable, unmitigated clown show. The TSA can trot employees out all day long (and I see this especially before heavy holiday flying) telling people that it’s really simple and here are the rules, follow the rules and you’ll be okay, blah, blah, blah.
I’ve had the TSA ask me to open my case in the ticket line (Charlotte), take me back behind walls and try to pry my case open (Charlotte), take me back behind walls and ask me to open my luggage, after which she threw my clothing asunder, literally unpacking my luggage and stuffing the clothing back inside the luggage in wads, and never once even showing interest in the firearm case (Phoenix), take me to an X-ray machine and take pictures of my luggage, never once showing interest in opening the luggage and examining the firearm case (Denver), force me to drop my luggage on a conveyor that started at an outside, unsecured location (Denver), ask me to open my firearm case and swab my firearm with a patch (for God only knows what reason), etc. I could go on. This isn’t the entire laundry list.
I am tired to death of hearing that it’s the fault of the airline company since the rules vary with each company. No … they … don’t. Airlines don’t do firearm or case inspections. That’s just a pathetic excuse.
Here’s a tip for the TSA. As long as you act like uneducated goobers and ignore your own laws, you have no right to complain if passengers don’t take them seriously either.
On December 2, 2019 at 2:47 am, JFP said:
I had a TSA agent at the security screen/show your papers line ten years ago unable to read my passport correctly. Newly issued passport and he insisted it was expired. He was pointing to the issue date thinking it was the expiration date. Either he was incompetent (in an empty line no less) or was having a joke at my expense as I briefly wonder if my trip is about to be cut short. Neither was comforting.
On December 2, 2019 at 7:46 am, Roger J said:
Herschel, your experiences explain my reasoning for no longer flying. If I can’t drive to get there, I don’t go. (I understand some people must travel by air in connection with their work. Fortunately, I am not one of them.)
On December 2, 2019 at 8:06 am, ragman said:
I’m with ya Roger. And I’m a retired airline pilot, I can fly anywhere in the world space available for free. No thanks, I’m not going to be treated like a criminal by some ignorant a-hole.
On December 2, 2019 at 9:34 am, Jack said:
Unfortunately, I’m one of those that has to fly for work, and I sometimes bring firearms. I had the same demand for keys at Raleigh Durham via Southwest. I decided not to fight so as not to miss my flight. Returning from Reno was a no-hassle zone.
I’ll probably fly RDU to RNO again, this time via American, and we’ll see how it goes.
On December 2, 2019 at 9:53 am, Fred said:
I don’t fly. I don’t go to communist states (I have family in those states who are full blown statists. they are no longer my people, I belong to God, they are of their father the devil). I don’t cuss (it took 10 years and lot’s of prayer to quit this ignorant talk). I don’t drink. I don’t surrender my weapons. I don’t go in to gun free kill zones. I don’t go in large crowds. I hate those that hate God. I love those who don’t know God and those that do. I tell the truth (mostly, progress) even if it hurts (and hurts me as well, stop being mealy mouthed Christians!). I don’t support Republicans at all (that ended with Trump’s Red Flag laws)
I shut down a site wide systems upgrade / update because I told 2 NWO corporate entities that I would be going to church for Easter, leaving Friday to return to drive to my home state, be back sometime Monday, fire me if you like, but I will serve the Lord that day. (hint: I don’t have debt, I can take risks in career and life.)
These and many others are non-negotiable. America is full of squishes. Don’t be a squish. Stand for something even if it’s hard because, these are the good old days and times are easy. If you won’t stand up now you will fold like a cheap suit when times do get hard, this is a fact of human behaviour. Each one of these decisions was hard, they have had consequences. This is what living for the Lord looks like in pre-war America, we are not one people. The uglier they get the more committed to the Lord we must be. (That’s how persecution of Christians spreads Christianity like wildfire, the truth is irresistible, beautiful even.) Get over yourselves, seek God in all things, do you believe that He will provide or NOT? If you’re still living in the old delusion you must break free. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” That says MADE free, NOT set free. God did not set us free, he made us free, under His terms, by the blood of His Son, we are His slave now, be good at it.
On December 4, 2019 at 4:13 pm, Sanders said:
My daughter and son-in-law flew with a rifle case (big Pelican 2 rifle size) this past Thanksgiving weekend. They took a redeye home, and the airline (American) lost their luggage – or their luggage didn’t make the connecting flight, which the kids barely made.
Fortunately, their luggage – all of it – caught up to them a few hours later.
I try not to fly anymore. The only exception I made was earlier this year when my brother was dying. It was a lot faster than driving 2-3 days cross country, which allowed me to spend more time with him. I didn’t have to worry about taking a firearm with me. He made sure I had one when I got there.
On December 4, 2019 at 4:26 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@Sanders,
Yea, the best possible situation. It’s what I do when relatives fly home. Make sure they have one. That way, no muss, no fuss.