The JOKE that is American Airport Security

[hech54]

Teacher Arrested After Bookmark Called Concealed Weapon

POSTED: 10:17 am EDT September 17, 2004

TAMPA, Fla. -- A weight may soon be lifted off a Maryland woman charged with carrying a concealed weapon in an airport.

It wasn't a gun or a knife. It was a weighted bookmark.

Kathryn Harrington was flying home from vacation last month when screeners at the Tampa, Fla., airport found her bookmark. It's an 8.5-inch leather strip with small lead weights at each end.

Airport police said it resembled a weighted weapon that could be used to knock people unconscious. So the 52-year-old special education teacher was handcuffed, put into a police car, and charged with carrying a concealed weapon.
She faced a possible criminal trial and a $10,000 fine. But the state declined to prosecute, and the Transportation Security Administration said it probably won't impose a fine.

Harrington said she'll never again carry her bookmark into an airport.

[Tommyknocker]

And y'all NorthCat_8 was such a nice guy. He still hasn't accounted for his whereabouts for November 22, 1963.

[Capmaster]

And y'all NorthCat_8 was such a nice guy. He still hasn't accounted for his whereabouts for November 22, 1963.

I can vouch for him. He was in Dallas with me

[Tommyknocker]

And y'all NorthCat_8 was such a nice guy. He still hasn't accounted for his whereabouts for November 22, 1963.

I can vouch for him. He was in Dallas with me

AHA! J'ACCUSE!!!!!

[Capmaster]

And y'all NorthCat_8 was such a nice guy. He still hasn't accounted for his whereabouts for November 22, 1963.

I can vouch for him. He was in Dallas with me

AHA! J'ACCUSE!!!!!

We were behind the guy on the grassy knoll, pointing fingers at him and waving, but nobody paid attention ....except the observant Mr. Zapruder

[Tommyknocker]

And y'all NorthCat_8 was such a nice guy. He still hasn't accounted for his whereabouts for November 22, 1963.

I can vouch for him. He was in Dallas with me

AHA! J'ACCUSE!!!!!

We were behind the guy on the grassy knoll, pointing fingers at him and waving, but nobody paid attention ....except the observant Mr. Zapruder

Oh no, you don't. You and that weasily little accomplice of yours aren't going to wiggle out this one so easily. First, you take out world leaders, then smuggle lethal bookmarks about crowded aircraft. I smell conspiracy with a capital "c". I just haven't put all the pieces together. It'll just take a little time, but when I do, you'll both be hangin' and swangin'.

[Cobra]

The people at airport security should be arrested and punished. I would be livid if something as ridiculous as that ever happened to me.

I suppose then that my belt is a weapon. It is made of thick leather and has large steel parts on both ends. It's very heavy and could be used to whip, hit and strangle someone with. My lighter could be used to set things on fire (spirits from duty-free spring to mind - instant terrorist weapons provided by the airline).

A bookmark.....

[Capmaster]

And y'all NorthCat_8 was such a nice guy. He still hasn't accounted for his whereabouts for November 22, 1963.

I can vouch for him. He was in Dallas with me

AHA! J'ACCUSE!!!!!

We were behind the guy on the grassy knoll, pointing fingers at him and waving, but nobody paid attention ....except the observant Mr. Zapruder

Oh no, you don't. You and that weasily little accomplice of yours aren't going to wiggle out this one so easily. First, you take out world leaders, then smuggle lethal bookmarks about crowded aircraft. I smell conspiracy with a capital "c". I just haven't put all the pieces together. It'll just take a little time, but when I do, you'll both be hangin' and swangin'.

That'll give me pause the next time I want to knit an afghan on my Southwest flight to Kansas City

As far as the Dallas thing, only Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage know the truth

[Tommyknocker]

Not to mention Kevin Costner and Oliver Stone. The more people who know, the easier it is to get to the truth. I suggest you get a lawyer.

[holistic]

The JOKE that is American Airport Security.............

...........Teacher Arrested After Bookmark Called Concealed Weapon

Not just the USA. But I guess with all the malls closing down, one can get a reject mall cop for minimum wage and minimal training and have them decide what are lethal weapons.
Bullet proof doors (not the skin on either side - go figure) , no going for a piss 30 minutes before major airports .....and please remove your shoes.
Sure glad that all that dickhead (R Reid) was trying to light was his shoe and he not have some thing up his arse or we would all be getting random anal probings by the collective lack of intelligence that runs the countries airport securities.

[Capmaster]

Not to mention Kevin Costner and Oliver Stone. The more people who know, the easier it is to get to the truth. I suggest you get a lawyer.

I forgot those two. <sounds of receding footsteps as Capmaster slips passport into attache case>

[Tommyknocker]

Not to mention Kevin Costner and Oliver Stone. The more people who know, the easier it is to get to the truth. I suggest you get a lawyer.

I forgot those two. <sounds of receding footsteps as Capmaster slips passport into attache case>

You can run, but you'll only die tired.

[wulf109]

It isn't politically correct but we need profiling. It wasn't blond haired swedes who flew airplanes into buildings. It was young arab(middle eastern) men. If a nation is on the official terrorist nations list shouldn't the minimum be that there citizens cannot travel in the U.S.

[tgpo]

And they wonder why people are refusing to fly these days.

[ViRaL1]

The people at airport security should be arrested and punished.

Many of them already have, even before they got jobs at the airport.

Here's an article back from Oct 2001. Not sure how much has changed since then.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Preliminary findings of a government audit released Tuesday revealed that one of the nation's largest airport security firms is still employing screeners with criminal records that should disqualify them from employment.

http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/10/17/inv.airport.security.audit/

[holistic]

Taken from the above link : http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/10/17/inv.airport.security.audit/

.........Also at Dulles, seven out of 20 screeners were removed from their jobs after they failed a basic skills test.

To be employed as a screener, applicants must complete 12 hours of instruction, pass a written test and be re-tested on an annual basis. .....

I don't know why, but this DID NOT COME AS A SHOCK to me.

Well actually no i did expect a 50% fail rate. I feel safe .

[thecoalman]

.........Also at Dulles, seven out of 20 screeners were removed from their jobs after they failed a basic skills test.

To be employed as a screener, applicants must complete 12 hours of instruction, pass a written test and be re-tested on an annual basis. .....

I don't know why, but this DID NOT COME AS A SHOCK to me.

Well actually no i did expect a 50% fail rate. I feel safe .

And I'll bet it's probably a multiple choice no-brainer test too.

Q #1 When screening a arab man and you find grey putty what do you do?

A. Get immediate assistance because it may be an explosive.
B. Ask him what the substance is.
C. Help him make rabbit scupltures with the cool looking rabbit watch.

[housepig]

It isn't politically correct but we need profiling. It wasn't blond haired swedes who flew airplanes into buildings. It was young arab(middle eastern) men.

yeah! if only we had that years ago, we could have caught the Middle-Eastern terrorists who bombed the Federal Building in Oklahoma City...

... oh, wait....

[redwudz]

I was leaving Las Vegas airport last year. At the secure area this lady demanded "Put your credit cards in the dish!" I was curious and there was nobody behind me waiting. I was thinking they didn't want to erase my credit cards with the xray scanner. But I have other cards with magnetic stripes that I would prefer not to be erased, like my drivers license. I said "Why just my credit cards?" She just glared at me and repeated her statement . I threw my whole wallet in and moved on. What a bitch. She could have gave me a simple explanation.

On subsequent occasions, I have been checked with a magnetic scanner, made to take my shoes off and of course empty my pockets. I don't mind as long as they are not ******** about it. I'm not of the profile type.

I flew into San Diego 5 days after 9/11. Lot of tense people and lots of room on the flight. My only fear was the East Asian cab driver that I became convinced was a suicide bomber and was delivering a car bomb because of his driving.

As least as Americans, I guess we need to get used to higher security. I can tolerate a lot, as long as they are fair when I am cooperative.

[thecoalman]

"Put your credit cards in the dish!" .

Speaking of credit cards what's preventing someone from putting an edge on one and using it for a knife? I'd bet you could slice someone pretty good as they are right now.

[Tommyknocker]

It isn't politically correct but we need profiling. It wasn't blond haired swedes who flew airplanes into buildings. It was young arab(middle eastern) men. If a nation is on the official terrorist nations list shouldn't the minimum be that there citizens cannot travel in the U.S.

That won't work either. After what Timothy McVeigh did, the security services would not be to hire white Americans.

[hech54]

When I was in Australia...in the Adelaide airport...there was a family "of color" should I say....with strange head-gear. I leaned over and told my Aussie friend "In America....we check their luggage TWICE". She was quite taken back by my lack of respect for the people of sand.
That was BEFORE 9/11....now her song is a bit different.

[pacmania_2001]

They have an airport in Adelaide?

I thought they only just got electricity.

I don't mind airport security, its a bit of a joke though. When I came back through international customs (pre 9/11) I got through with handcuffs in my bag.

When I flew interstate recently my friend who works security at the airport just escorted me past all the security screenings.

[northcat_8]

And y'all NorthCat_8 was such a nice guy. He still hasn't accounted for his whereabouts for November 22, 1963.

I can vouch for him. He was in Dallas with me

AHA! J'ACCUSE!!!!!

We were behind the guy on the grassy knoll, pointing fingers at him and waving, but nobody paid attention ....except the observant Mr. Zapruder

I was the one sticking bunny ears up behind his head.

Coalman - SHHHHHHHHHHH....that's a trick of the trade

[thecoalman]

Coalman - SHHHHHHHHHHH....that's a trick of the trade

Victorinox the makers of the swiss army knife make a "swiss" credit card complete with knife. They don't scan your wallet do they? My point is that if someone wanted to take a wepaon on board there's too many possibilties to get it there that are beyond the obvious.

[BJ_M]

now that you are not allowed to lock your luggage as all luggage is checked in a hidden area -- there has been millions in $$ of stuff stolen (not an exaggeration) .

i lost a leather jacket for one thing.. i know of many people losing stuff out of their suitcases --

even the ntsb knows about and is swamped with claims ..

[hech54]

now that you are not allowed to lock your luggage as all luggage is checked in a hidden area -- there has been millions in $$ of stuff stolen (not an exaggeration) .

i lost a leather jacket for one thing.. i know of many people losing stuff out of their suitcases --

even the ntsb knows about and is swamped with claims ..

Which comes back around to:
Look at the total MORONS and delinquents that are left in charge of checking the luggage.....the ones you can see. I'm sure it's the same behind the scenes as well.

[bugster]

If you want to experience REAL airline security, try flying El Al to Israel.

I have not personally done so, but a few friends and colleagues have.

[thecoalman]

now that you are not allowed to lock your luggage as all luggage is checked in a hidden area -- there has been millions in $$ of stuff stolen (not an exaggeration) .

i lost a leather jacket for one thing.. i know of many people losing stuff out of their suitcases --

even the ntsb knows about and is swamped with claims ..

Which comes back around to:
Look at the total MORONS and delinquents that are left in charge of checking the luggage.....the ones you can see. I'm sure it's the same behind the scenes as well.

This was a problem before the new security measures locked baggae or not. I'm sure it's gotten worse but it's nothing new.

[DVD_Ripper]

Solution.... See Isreal.... Armed Pilots