Man With Swords Arrested at Boston Airport; Panicked Passengers Ran Out of His Way

The Associated Press , via TampBay online | Published: Oct 22, 2001

[jerod]

BOSTON (AP) - A man who walked through Logan International Airport with three samurai swords was arrested on disorderly conduct charges after nervous passengers scrambled to get out of his way.

Raymond Morrison, 23, of Dracut, did not attempt to breach security and apparently had no plans to fly anywhere, said Phil Orlandella, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs the airport.

But when Morrison walked up to three terminals Sunday wearing a cowboy hat, with the swords protruding from the waistband of his jeans, passengers became frightened.

"He caused a ruckus. People were panicking and running away," said state police Sgt. Edward Principe.

Morrison was scheduled to be arraigned Monday in district court.

AP-ES-10-22-01 0942EDT

[jerod]

En Guard!

[Wright is right!]

Is this another fraternity stunt, or is a psychiatric evaluation called for?

Michael

[Rick.Donaldson]

Hmmmm Lots of us carry swords all the time. (chuckles)

[RippleFire]

But when Morrison walked up to three terminals Sunday wearing a cowboy hat, with the swords protruding from the waistband of his jeans, passengers became frightened.

Sounds like a Banzai Buckeroo!

[B4Ranch]

The cowboy hat should have given them the initial clue that this boy had problems. You should see some of the looks I have gotten over the last 40 years.

[babyface00]

One more example why we need "sensible sword laws".

[marktwain]

I would say a psychiatric evaluation of the paniced people is called for. Are all the people in the Northeast wimps, that they panic at the sight of a man with a sword in his belt?

[Bub]

Thank you mark for making the first sensible reply. Cowboy hat? Three swords? So? America never could have been built with the "Americans" who now live in it.

[oldsalt]

Hmmmm Lots of us carry swords all the time. (chuckles)

You do if your name is Duncan McCleod!

[ASA Vet]

Was he looking for Ducan?

[marquis]

Let me guess ... He was a Highlander, right?

[TRY ONE]

"But when Morrison walked up to three terminals Sunday wearing a cowboy hat, with the swords protruding from the waistband of his jeans, passengers became frightened...."

What's the problem? Down here in Texas some of us shave with 'em........Sometimes it's our face.....sometimes it's your face!

[ASA Vet]

You beat me by mere seconds. That's a "quickening."

[Constitution Day]

Everybody calm down.

"Raymond Morrison" is just the alter ego of "Zorro, the Gay Blade".

[ikka]

But when Morrison walked up to three terminals Sunday wearing a cowboy hat, with the swords protruding from the waistband of his jeans, passengers became frightened.

How exactly did he manage to walk up to 3 terminals at the same time? Or am I missing something?

[EggsAckley]

Are all the people in the Northeast wimps, that they panic at the sight of a man with a sword in his belt?

First of all, it was three swords. And secondly, what would you expect them to do? Just curious.

[Goetz_von_Berlichingen]

A couple of years back, someone went on a rampage on the Staten Island Ferry with a samurai sword.

Whenever I travel with a sword, I always wrap the hilt to make it non-threatening. Simple common sense.

[4CJ]

Yes, and I'll see your /sarcasm and raise you two:

Time for Brady/HCI to rant about stricter laws on swords and planes guns.

[okie_tech]

"People were panicking and running away"

pathetic

[pubmom]

You beat me to it!
(There can be only one:^)

[MissAmericanPie]

LOL, yep, Texas men even hold a gun to their heads when they shave, just to keep an eye on themselves. Watching themselves in the bathroom mirror thinking "Careful with that razor mister or I'll blow yer brains out".

[goodnesswins]

Anyone get a picture?

[cynicom]

Miss...

I think you funnin us with that one. Were'nt you????

[JohnGalt]

"Your mother been telling you stories about me again..."

[Aquinasfan]

One more example why we need "sensible sword laws".

You want to get in touch with MA State Senator Cheryl Jacques (D). A few years back she proposed legislation that would outlaw crossbows.

[spycatcher]

[dfrussell]

Actually, swords do frequently pass through airports. Kendo/Iaido use shinai (bamboo swords), boken (hardwood swords), and katana (metal blade -- [i.e.,the real thing]).

Shinai are used for tournaments -- pretty much full contact -- lots of bruises even with armor.

Boken and katana are used for kata and demonstrations.

In the hands of someone with skill, a shinai could leave some rather bloody welts on bare skin... possibly break lighter bones if used with that intent.

A boken, like any other blunt instrument could be used to break/crush bones -- including a skull.

Anything short of a very good, fast aim and a gun would be worthless against someone with training in kendo or iaido and a katana.

The upside is that anyone who did have training would be so unlikely to carry a katana in such a manner that it could be discounted. Like gun shows, kendo or iaido demonstrations / tournaments are quite safe places to be :-)

A good, new katana from a recognized smith would run $5,000 to $30,000 or so.... one can get the equivalent of a midnight special for a couple hundred dollars.

Good, older blades with a pedigree are in museums or private collections. The odds of obtaining an older blade one via any method is slim and none.

[TRY ONE]

"LOL, yep, Texas men even hold a gun to their heads when they shave, just to keep an eye on themselves. Watching themselves in the bathroom mirror thinking "Careful with that razor mister or I'll blow yer brains out"..."

LOL That guarantees a goooood shave everytime!

Too bad Slick didn't do that.....he kept one eye on Willard while shaving, etc.

[RippleFire]

[Psalm 73]

Last year I brought two of my firearms from Florida back up to Konnecticut with me.
When I checked them in, the check-in guy asked me to unlock the travel case and rack the shotgun to ensure they were not loaded - boy, you should have seen the look on the ladies face in the next line!
I thought she was gonna wet herself - funniest thing I saw all year!

[lepton]

First of all, it was three swords. And secondly, what would you expect them to do? Just curious.

Three swords? Two swords can be used for certain fighting styles, but three?

In any case...if I were armed, I would only care if he drew them and started acting wildly. The only reason to care here is because the populace has been disarmed. ...And why should he be responsible for their phobias? Perhaps we should prosecute people for shipping spiders and snakes in transparent cases.

Assuming that the article correctly states that they were in his belt, and he did not draw them or act threateningly with them, the government is more to blame for the panic than the guy was.

[marktwain]

I passed on buying one for $250 twenty years ago. It was a damascus style blade, completely handmade, a WWII trophy. A friend of mine bought one at a garage/estate sale about 4 years ago for $50. Argghh.

I have regretted not coming up with the money somehow, ever since (I was a poor student then)

[marktwain]

First of all, it was three swords. And secondly, what would you expect them to do? Just curious.

I would expect them to do nothing. That is what is required in polite society when someone is doing something that you don't understand but is non-threatening.

This is why I routinely carry a handgun openly. It innoculates people who are unfamiliar with guns. By the third time they see someone carrying openly, they ignore it. I bet these sheeple wouldn't think twice about a uniformed man carrying a gun openly, yet it only takes twenty dollars at a thrift shop to buy a uniform.

[DJ MacWoW]

You do if your name is Duncan McCleod!

Duncan was never that dumb. It had to be Richie or that idiot Cimoli! :-)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"Sounds like a Banzai Buckeroo!"

Shouldn't that be Buckeroo Banzai? Or were you making a funny?

[BallandPowder]

Texas men even hold a gun to their heads when they shave, just to keep an eye on themselves. Watching themselves in the bathroom mirror thinking "Careful with that razor mister or I'll blow yer brains out". Powder..Patch..Ball FIRE!! ROFL!!!

[RippleFire]

It was a light funny, but apparently we are among the few to remember the movie.