Woman Gets Past N.Y. Airport Security With Stun Gun, Knife

AP ^ | January 25, 2004

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

A woman passed through security screening at New York's LaGuardia Airport with a stun gun and knife in her purse - but later discovered the mistake herself and alerted authorities.

The woman realized she was carrying the items after a short layover in Detroit and on her way to Denver.

"She immediately went, 'Oh, my God, I'm not supposed to have these here,' and called the flight attendant over," said Spirit Airlines spokeswoman Laura Bennett.

The pilot alerted Denver International Airport; police met the plane at the gate and took the woman into custody for questioning. She was released without charges.

"She did the right thing by giving up the items voluntarily, and she was never malicious," Bennett said. "We never considered her a threat."

Transportation Security Administration officials had no comment on the security slip. TSA official Darrin Kayser said the agency would investigate.

"It was an honest but odd mistake," Bennett said. "But it's true that people often don't think about what's in their luggage."

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

"We never considered her a threat."

Ironic.

[John Jorsett]

Innocent or not, I'd never turn myself in. I'd get off the plane and stuff the items in the nearest trash can. I'd never put my fate in the hands of the same agency that was incompetent enough to let me board with them in the first place.

[Gunrunner2]

Yeah, that might work, but consider this; when the trash collector opens the bin to empty it and finds the stun gun and knife, what then? He turns the stuff in, the alarm is raised, flights are suspended and possibly cancelled, everyone again goes through screening and the world is interrupted---but you.

I'd rather wait until I got off the plane, walked to "security," asked to speak with a supervisor about a sensitive subject, in private, and then tell them. This way you don't embarass TSA publically and provoke them into doing something to save face, you don't risk closing an airport, you don't risk setting off a flighty stewardess and you don't interrupt the rest of the world because the TSA are inept.

Just my thought.

[John Jorsett]

I'd rather wait until I got off the plane, walked to "security," asked to speak with a supervisor about a sensitive subject, in private, and then tell them. This way you don't embarass TSA publically and provoke them into doing something to save face, you don't risk closing an airport, you don't risk setting off a flighty stewardess and you don't interrupt the rest of the world because the TSA are inept.

I could see them still shutting down the airport because, after all, she was in the secure area with weapons, so maybe there are others there still, and you'd still risk a bureaucrat imposing his agency's version of "zero tolerance" and making an example of you. Also, I'm convinced that this woman's name is going into a database somewhere and she's going to have a very difficult time boarding a plane in the future. I'd rather stash the stuff in the trash. The airport shutdown could be avoided by stashing it in a trash can outside the secure zone. I bet they find stuff in those cans all the time as people realize they came to the airport with them by accident and toss them before they get to security.

[blackdog]

Probing.

[Mulder]

'Oh, my God, I'm not supposed to have these here,'

It's a shame how brainwashed Americans have become.

[Centurion2000]

"She immediately went, 'Oh, my God, I'm not supposed to have these here,' and called the flight attendant over," said Spirit Airlines spokeswoman Laura Bennett.

The pilot alerted Denver International Airport; police met the plane at the gate and took the woman into custody for questioning. She was released without charges.

A garbage can could have fixed that problem with a lot less fuss.

[Mulder]

Innocent or not, I'd never turn myself in. I'd get off the plane and stuff the items in the nearest trash can. I'd never put my fate in the hands of the same agency that was incompetent enough to let me board with them in the first place.

I agree. Whether or not you get charged for this stuff is a crapshoot, so it makes sense to bring your chances down to "zero".

[Centurion2000]

of course I didn't throw my 357 ammo out when I found it in one of my carryons on the plane :P ... just kept my mouth shut :P

[Mulder]

He turns the stuff in, the alarm is raised, flights are suspended and possibly cancelled, everyone again goes through screening and the world is interrupted---but you.

And your point is?

If the fools choose to shut down the airport, that isn't *my* fault, and I shouldn't feel guilty for it.

I'd rather wait until I got off the plane, walked to "security," asked to speak with a supervisor about a sensitive subject, in private, and then tell them. This way you don't embarass TSA publically and provoke them into doing something to save face, you don't risk closing an airport, you don't risk setting off a flighty stewardess and you don't interrupt the rest of the world because the TSA are inept.

No.. All you risk is a felony arrest and having your life ruined.

If the Stasi operative is having a bad day, you might get charged.

If they don't like the way you look, you might get charged.

If they are getting pressure from Bush/Ashcroft/Mineta to improve their "stats" (as this administration loves to do), you might get charged.

But it's your life and you're welcome to do as you please.

As for me, the most important thing is that *I* make it home safely at night. I heard that from a police officer once, and it sounds like good advice.

[Cicero]

At the very least, if you turn in a forbidden article in a situation like this you will be taken in and questioned and you will miss your flight. She was lucky enough to be questioned only briefly, whatever that means, but in many similar stories people have been held overnight.

I'd also be tempted to throw the stuff in a trash barrel. Maybe go buy a sandwich and put it in the used paper bag. Chances are it wouldn't be found.

These are bureaucrats who feel a need to justify their salaries.

[shiva]

It's a shame how brainwashed Americans have become.

you are so right. Last week I was watching a documentary about women working during WWII. She was a black woman saying she was the first "Negro" woman hired. She went on saying "Negro" this and "Negro" that and everytime she would say, "Negro", I felt she was saying something that was taboo. Talk about brainwashed!

[B4Ranch]

It's a shame how brainwashed Americans have become.

So that's what you call it. Very polite of you. How does braindead sound?

[B4Ranch]

"Negro" was what she was raised with. I frequently say, "colored". That was the term chosen by their leaders then.

[Gunrunner2]

"As for me, the most important thing is that *I* make it home safely at night."

Yup. As long as you get home on time is all that counts, and all those people who had their lives interrupted, who cares anyway, me-me-me, nice approach.

Have a nice day (click--"ignore")

[Mulder]

As long as you get home on time is all that counts, and all those people who had their lives interrupted, who cares anyway, me-me-me, nice approach

Like I said, it's not my fault that some bozo would choose to shut down the airports.

And if the choice is between me getting a felony arrest, or having "everyone else" inconveinced, you're damn right I'm going to be "selfish" about it.