The TSA is an empty suit, quite literally pulling the puds of American citizens for no real valid reasons save those of “appearance.” Whilst grandmothers — likely your own — are searched to no end, persons with handguns still, oddly enough, somehow manage to take their weapons — undiscovered — from various points A to B:
You’ve likely already read that, recently, a major carrier pilot placed videos of security issues on YouTube — but wait, keep reading: he found that Big Sis didn’t much care for that at all. Law enforcement officials came to his home in order to repossess his federally-issued firearm — the one he could lawfully carry onto the flight deck of his multiple-engined jet aircraft with every flight. You might want to view his videos, and listen completely to his narratives.
He makes a series of quite disturbing and incongruous but cogent and logical points. He takes issue, amongst various topics, with hundreds of ground crew operators and aircraft operator employees having essentially unfettered access to aircraft at their home airports. I should, with that in mind, care to point out PSA Flight 1771 — which augered into the ground near Harmony, California after a fired employee boarded with a .44 magnum revolver on December 7th of 1987. Intending retribution following his firing, the CVR picks up shots fired just before the crash where all 43 persons aboard were killed at an impact speed of 700+ mph. Employees are given a security threat assessment and roughly a 10-year backgrounding, but pilots, for example, hold the yoke of an entire aircraft in their hands. As well as that nasty fire-ax.
His venue might have been a bit, shall we say, unsettlingly-executed. But like many Americans he’s clearly fed up with incompetence and aforementioned pointless pud-pulling. Will he be prosecuted? The various applicable sections can be found in Title 49: Transportation, in the eCFR sections involving PART 1544—AIRCRAFT OPERATOR SECURITY: AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS. This section, as with many, can be interpreted rather widely. He would likely have to have specifically stated or posted sensitive secure information. Again, open to interpretation. As you can see, the information I relate is publicly available on the internet, hence the link. The bottom line is this: the pilot is going to become the poster child for “TSA Example.” Those would be, I submit, facts in evidence.
There is, however, a gloriously-simple solution to the TSA issue, at heart: profiling.
Let me write that word again, so there is NO mistaking my meaning: P–R–O–F–I–L–I–N–G.
These days, that means profiling MIDDLE EASTERN MEN between a certain age range, and placing THEM under greater scrutiny. Likely, most of all of those profiled will be ISLAMIC. Further, those persons who may APPEAR to fit the above categories should be PROFILED and subject to FURTHER scrutiny. That is appellated the utilization of common sense.
When and if the appearance of the threat changes, the PROFILES should change as well. PROFILING must be FLEXIBLE with the threat base.
But, of course, the TSA being what it is, and various arms of the federal government being what they are, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the following story from a member of the US military:
As the Chalk Leader for my flight home from Afghanistan, I witnessed the following:
When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards.
Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That’s where the stupid started.
First, everyone was forced to get off the plane — even though the plane wasn’t refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.
It’s probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren’t loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.
The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it reinspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area, the TSA decided not to reinspect our cargo — just to inspect us again:
Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, re-inspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Okay, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN.
This is probably another good time to remind you that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.
So we’re in line, going through one at a time. One of our soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better.
A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the soldier that they’re going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:
TSA Guy: You can’t take those on the plane.
Soldier: What? I’ve had them since we left country.
TSA Guy: You’re not supposed to have them.
Soldier: Why?
TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.
Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a
weapon. And I’m allowed to take it on.
TSA Guy: Yeah but you can’t use it to take over the plane. You don’t have bullets.
Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?
TSA Guy: [awkward silence]
Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the f**k out of here. I’ll buy you a new set.
Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security]
To top it off, the TSA demanded we all be swabbed for “explosive residue” detection. Everyone failed [go figure, we just came home from a war zone], because we tested positive for “Gun Powder Residue.” Who the F**K is hiring these people?
This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns — but nothing that could have been used as a weapon.
Can someone please tell me What the F**K happened to OUR country while we were gone?
Sgt. Mad Dog Tracy
And with that, dearest ladies and gentlemen, I slap my forehead once again at governmental incompetence and end this post.
Heavy sigh.
BZ
Also read the pilot had his civilian CCW permit canceled and his personal, not issued, handgun confiscated.
WSF: I had not heard of those points. If his Fornicalia CCW was rescinded that was at the behest of that county’s sheriff, who issues permits in the state. Which means that county’s sheriff bent over from federal pressure.
BZ
WSF beat me to it…. Big Sis is after that guy, no question… I deal with the kabuki security WAY too much (couple of times a month minimum)… I carried a Leatherman Wave back and forth for a month in the bottom of my backpack and NOBODY either TSA or international EVER caught it…
NFO: well, that’s a confidence-inspiring story. Nice to know all that really expensive Chertoff-corruptive technology is doing its job, eh? Coupled with your mandatory pud pulling.
On the other hand, it’s nice to have a Leatherman when you want one.
;^)
BZ
I have NO doubt that the soldiers story is true, my Son was leaving Iraq and then Kuwait after a year-long deployment in 2005/2006.
My Son had his M-4 and 9mm pistol.
Some goofy bastard, a NAVY guy doing an airplane security detail, took his Leatherman away, same excuse, ‘It *could* be a weapon’.
Go figure… It’s inherent and terminal stupidity such as this that will finally do our nation in…
TF: I concur; for a combination of reasons the ability to do two things has been lost, hopefully only temporarily:
1. Use common sense, otherwise known as discretion;
2. Not expect discipline, retribution or suit for applying aforementioned common sense and/or discretion;
BZ
I did a story on this topic based in a Red State article, but after seeing your take on this I linked to it…
http://greenmnts.blogspot.com
My take was more on the bleeting sheep and those who are cracking heads and selling themselves for a pension. As a member of Oathkeepers, this bothers me greatly.
Toaster 802:
As a member of Oathkeepers, I’ll do what I can when I can. When the fecal material hits the fan blades.
Thanks for the link, sir.
BZ
Another discouraging poll today, the leaders in the GOP 2012 presidential race are all more of the sickening same. Not a real conservative in the bunch.