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Loaded gun makes it through airport security
Ben Stiller's friend on "There's Something About Mary" wouldn't let Ben go out with a loaded gun, and perhaps that's a lesson we should all take to heart. But should you accidentally take your loaded firearm through airport security, you might not get caught. The TSA seems to be great at detecting your shampoo or engagement ring, but agents failed to detect a gun this past Sunday.
According to CNN, Gregory Scott Hinkle went through airport security at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport with a loaded weapon. After he made it through the checkpoint, he remembered that he had the gun, and returned to security to disclose it.
The TSA claims that this incident is "not a systemic problem in that our testing indicates TSOs [Transportation Security Officers] have a very high success rate at finding firearms."
- TSA pours out coffee, ignores boxcutter
- TSA steals traveler's pudding, leaves him armed with knife
- TSA thief caught red-handed, arrested
- TSA screeners fail to catch explosives at security checkpoint
- Fight back! Use these luggage tags.
- Go with the flow, and buy goods confiscated by the TSA.
Filed under: North America, United States, Airports, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Upstanding Citizen Jan 24th 2008 11:52AM
This is what happens when you employ thieves and then empower them a little.
Brittney Jan 24th 2008 8:19PM
That is ridiculous that he is being punished for being honest and pointing out a flaw in the security system that could have ended in disaster!
uzumakispiral13 Jan 24th 2008 8:59PM
exactly why punish the honest!
camla Jan 25th 2008 5:11AM
I used to be a Screener and it was hard work. What was even harder was working with the public who were often rude and the other screeners who were often frustrated, wanna-be cops! Most of the screeners are good citizens who want to help their country be a safer place. But, there is also a percentage of people who are very emmotionally immature adults on a power trip. It was unbelievable to most of us that these people had made it through this extreme selection process. But, it is like every job in every place. You cannot blame the majority of the good for the minority of the idiots.
Lon Horiuchi V Jan 24th 2008 8:27PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoplophobia
mack Jan 24th 2008 8:44PM
What an Outstanding Citizen. The TSA's should receive the misdemeanor, not the passenger. We need more honest people like Mr. Hinkle. Don't you think ??? Have a nice day.
PS I hope the judge in court can read through the lines at court.
Ann Marie Jan 24th 2008 8:54PM
What is wrong with the media. Does this really help us. HELL NO! All it does is tell the terrorists that we are really lame and that chances are their terrorists attempt will succeed so why not try it. IDIOTS!
MO Jan 24th 2008 8:57PM
he got arrested because the airport screwed up , so of course they had to make it a point to charge someone
will Jan 24th 2008 9:00PM
The TSO's have a very high success rate at finding firearms ? How many people have been caught tryng to bring a firearm past security that would make this incident a non issue for the airport ? Scary . I say one firearm too many . Fire the 'highly trained' TSO(s) that let this firearm slip by . If that was a terrorist , many people would have lost there lives . I'll take my chances on the open road over being stuck on an airplane with an armed madman any day .
tojo Jan 24th 2008 8:59PM
While these idiot's are picking on an honest, "Law abiding" citizen, the inner city Punk's are running rough shod over real American's lives..
From the FBI:
Inner City Minority males, ages 14 to 35, commit 56,6% of all violent crime in America, while they comprise less than 3,5% of the population, and contribute less than 1/10 of 1% to the gross national product. Please join the National association of black and Hispanic law officer's and tell your Congressman and Senator you want money from homeland security allocated to clean the “Criminal element” out of the inner cities. Call now, before your mother is “Beaten to death” for a “Couple of dollars”,[NEW YORK] and your wife and teenage daughter are repeatedly “Gang Raped” and “Sodomized” while you are forced to watch, [KNOXVILLE] or your son is “Murdered”, just because some “Under privileged” Young gentleman thought he looked at him the “Wrong way”,
mike Jan 24th 2008 9:04PM
The judge in this case will probably be as big a dumb ass as TSA is.
marc Jan 24th 2008 9:15PM
Mr.Hinckel , Should be applauded for His Honesty, not arrested....
Ethan Jan 24th 2008 9:17PM
This is disgusting! I travel all the time for work and for fun and the idiots that make the rules empower the bigger idiots (and I mean that literally) to make our lives miserable. It's truly unbelievable that security as US airports are far more concerned that your 3oz. bottles and gels aren't in a plasitc Ziploc bag than finding guns and firearms. And for those people who think that TSA agents do "a great job"...wake up! I'm fly domestically at least 2-3 times a week and the things that I see are amazing! You think you're safe because there's some 20 y/o underacheiver looking at your bags with x-ray? I was in the Louisville, KY airport that day a few years ago when they had to wake up one of the female TSA agents in the screening line. Just recently, I accidentally carried a full-size tube of toothpaste through security. I've seen more people in strollers and wheelchairs just waived through than I can count. Trust me, if it's too much trouble the idiots in TSA look the other way. I commend this guy for fessing up and can't believe TSA had the nerve to call police. The police SHOULD HAVE arrested the TSE agents...right after they were fired.
D Russell Jan 24th 2008 9:21PM
This is a case of returning the horse to the barn after it has escaped and then setting the barn of fire.
AL Jan 24th 2008 9:32PM
THE FIRST THING I'D DO IS HIRE THE BEST ATTORNEY POSSIBLE,HAVE THE ASSHOLE THAT LET THE GUN GET BY HIM FIRED,AND SUE THE BASTARDS FOR EMOTIONAL ANGUISH,BECAUSE AFTER 9/11 THE GOVERNMENT JUST MADE THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL JOBS FOR A BUNCH OF HALF WITTED MORONS.THEY WERE BETTER OFF WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR!
shirley Jan 27th 2008 8:06PM
oh bull crap he knew better than that.He just wanted to see if he could and he did now I guess he won his bet.He just got scared and acted like he didnt remmeber.Anyone knows as much as it is talked about that you most certainly in any instance carry a gun on an aircraft.I do not think you can find an excuse for such a asine mistake.
Rusty Jan 25th 2008 1:09PM
Honestly, do you think that he would "knowingly" try to sneak a gun past the TSA (Truly Stupid Agency) security checkpoint? C'mon, you must lack the same attention to detail as the screener that let him through the checkpoint in the first place. Had he been caught trying to sneak a gun past through the so called "security checkpoint", he would be exactly where he is right now. So tell me Shirley, in your deluded stated of mind, what did he have to gain by just seeing if he could do it? Also, since he made it past security and the gun was not detected, what did he have to be scared of?!? He had no reason at all to return to security to inform them that they had SERIOUSLY screwed up and could have been happily on his way with no one knowing. One possible reason that he could have forgotten that he had the gun is that he has a concealed weapons permit and is used to having it with him at all times, much like a woman with her jewelry, purse, etc. so he didn't even think about it. I'm sure you didn't consider all of those possibilities, and because of that you can take comfort in knowing that if you're looking for a career change, you can always apply to be a TSA screener. The possibility of that just makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over.
PS To all of the TSA screeners that are ACTUALLY doing your job without the power trip and the sense of entitlement, thanks for your hard work. I know it can't be an easy job, especially when you are associated with dumbasses that create headlines such as this one.
Zaz Jan 24th 2008 9:36PM
Is anyone actually surprised by this? When we let creatures who are less intelligent than gorillas have serious jobs to do, we get what we deserve. We should let them continue deep-frying our fast food, a job that they aren't that good at, either, but at least they have a far less chance of putting actual humans in dangerous situations.
jeff Jan 24th 2008 9:54PM
first of all the man was being honest but its also good that he didnt get caught with the gun earlier cause then hell get arrested for having aloaded weapon. TSA needs to do their job better at detecting this stuff for all they know it could have benn a terroist and people could have lost their lives. They need to find the TSA person that let him by and fire him
WALT Feb 17th 2008 3:38PM
PLEASE DO NOT MAKE FUN OF THE GORILLAS. THEY ARE QUITE SMART. THE GOOD OLE TSA AGENTS GOT MY TUBE OF TOOTHPASTE ON MY LAST TRIP. MR. HINKEL SHOULD BE PRAISED AND REWARDED FOR HIS HONESTY IN POINTING OUT THE TSA'S MANY DEFICIENCIES. GOOOOOOOO GIANTS.