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Air Travel Stinks!
Gordian Blade
Member Posts: 1,202 ✭✭✭✭✭
I was going to use another S word for what air travel does, but out of respect for Mr. Nunn, I'll watch my language.
Last week, I took a one-week trip by air across the country to help my aunt in the People's Republic of Kalifornistan, who is battling cancer. I had to take 3 flights each way for a total of 6. I was wand-searched 4 times in the process, with my bag thoroughly searched, belt unbuckled, my person patted down, shoes off, etc. It happened to me twice before I even got on the first plane, once going through security and once just as I handed in my boarding pass. I was so mad that if I hadn't been on a mission of mercy to help a family member, I would have turned around and left the airport and the heck with the trip.
Folks, this has gone too far. Remember that the hijackers on 9/11 had box cutters. Not guns, not samurai swords, not switchblades, not k-bars, but box cutters. Without trying hard, I can think of at least six weapons I could make during a flight out of easily obtained materials that they could be looking straight at during a search and not have a second thought about, each equally or more dangerous than a box-cutter. If I wanted to get more creative, I'm sure I could think of a dozen more.
This isn't about security, it's street theater pure and simple. (Josey1 posted an article using that term in connection with airline security; I wish I had thought of it first.) The only real way to guarantee that nobody has any kind of weapon is to strip everyone, do full body cavity searches, and issue paper clothing. Then keep everyone strapped in their seats the whole flight. Forget any carry-on items. Maybe I'd better not say that and give Norm Minetta or Tom Ridge any ideas.
Oh yes, did I add that in one case, the security agents were chatting to each other in Spanish while search a poor joker who got singled out like myself? I have nothing against the Spanish language, my wife and all my kids took Spanish in school, but somehow that irked me even more.
I'm not going to be so unrealistic as to suggest that I'll never fly anywhere again, but it certainly isn't going to be my first choice anymore for optional travel like vacations. I don't know about you, but I value my freedom and personal dignity. I object to being treated like a criminal just for show.
Last week, I took a one-week trip by air across the country to help my aunt in the People's Republic of Kalifornistan, who is battling cancer. I had to take 3 flights each way for a total of 6. I was wand-searched 4 times in the process, with my bag thoroughly searched, belt unbuckled, my person patted down, shoes off, etc. It happened to me twice before I even got on the first plane, once going through security and once just as I handed in my boarding pass. I was so mad that if I hadn't been on a mission of mercy to help a family member, I would have turned around and left the airport and the heck with the trip.
Folks, this has gone too far. Remember that the hijackers on 9/11 had box cutters. Not guns, not samurai swords, not switchblades, not k-bars, but box cutters. Without trying hard, I can think of at least six weapons I could make during a flight out of easily obtained materials that they could be looking straight at during a search and not have a second thought about, each equally or more dangerous than a box-cutter. If I wanted to get more creative, I'm sure I could think of a dozen more.
This isn't about security, it's street theater pure and simple. (Josey1 posted an article using that term in connection with airline security; I wish I had thought of it first.) The only real way to guarantee that nobody has any kind of weapon is to strip everyone, do full body cavity searches, and issue paper clothing. Then keep everyone strapped in their seats the whole flight. Forget any carry-on items. Maybe I'd better not say that and give Norm Minetta or Tom Ridge any ideas.
Oh yes, did I add that in one case, the security agents were chatting to each other in Spanish while search a poor joker who got singled out like myself? I have nothing against the Spanish language, my wife and all my kids took Spanish in school, but somehow that irked me even more.
I'm not going to be so unrealistic as to suggest that I'll never fly anywhere again, but it certainly isn't going to be my first choice anymore for optional travel like vacations. I don't know about you, but I value my freedom and personal dignity. I object to being treated like a criminal just for show.
Comments
The reason they were chatting in Spanish is because they can't find anyone else to work for $6/hour...........
The thing that irritates me (this was in effect before 9/11) is that I have to take my laptop OUT of the case. What the heck good is that? WHY? No one can tell me.
Merc (who flies at least once a month)
NO! You may not have my guns! Now go crawl back into your hole!
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"Tolerating things you may not necessarily like is part of being free" - Larry Flynt
Rugster
I accidentally brought my pocket knife with me on a business trip.
It was in my jacket pocket. I set my Jacket down so I could be scanned. He never searched the Jacket. Put the coat back on.
Fumbling around my pocket in the middle of the flight I discovered I had the knife on me, doh!
Guns are good, Guns are great... please don't throw them in the lake.