TSA finding more guns each year at checkpoints

[Warren Stupidity]

The Transportation Security Administration found 1,828 guns among travelers preparing to board planes in 2013, a 20% increase from the year before, according to an academic study.

The number of detections at airport checkpoints continues to rise from 1,123 in 2010 to 1,320 in 2011 to 1,525 last year, according to the tabulation of TSA data by Northwestern University's Medill National Security Journalism Initiative. About five guns are found every day nationwide.

About 84% of the weapons found were loaded and one in three had a bullet in the chamber ready to fire, according to the study. The most popular weapons found were .380-caliber and 9 mm handguns.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2014/01/13/tsa-guns-atlanta-dallas-houston-phoenix-denver-nashville/4456583/

oops - forgot the link.

[rbixby]

1. Do people really just forget?

A gun is first off DEFINITELY banned at the airport, and second, its a very expensive thing to have to forfeit at the security checkpoint. Does this mean people are getting dumber?

[MineralMan]

2. I'm not sure people are getting any dumber.

Seems to me that there have always been plenty of such people. Maybe they're taking more trips.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. I think there is an overlapping set of people who go armed everywhere

and people who are incredibly stupid. Note that many of these idiots were carrying loaded guns, some with "one in the chamber".

[spin]

7. There is nothing "stupid" about carrying a modern handgun fully loaded in a quality holster. ...

I legally carry a fully loaded five shot .38 snub nosed revolver in a pocket holster. I personally prefer revolvers as I feel they are more reliable than semi-auto pistols.

I will admit that I would be somewhat hesitant to carry a Glock pistol with "one in the chamber" especially if it had a light target trigger installed. The Glock safety is on the trigger which is somewhat like putting the parking brake on top of the gas pedal in a car. Still a fully loaded Glock should be entirely safe as long as it is in a good holster and you remember to keep your finger off the "bang switch."

Remember that a person who is legally carrying a handgun is doing so in case he is attacked by an individual who intends to put him in the hospital for a long time or six feet under and has the ability or the weapon to do so. A victim might find it difficult or even impossible to chamber a round in such a situation.

I will totally agree that bringing a concealed handgun into the "sterile area" of an airport is incredibly stupid. Be aware that in Florida and five other states it is illegal to bring a concealed weapon into the airport terminal. (ref: https://www.floridacarry.org/issues/concealed-and-unconcealed-carry/40-airport-carry-is-legal-in-44-states-but-florida-will-put-you-in-jail)

[Warren Stupidity]

8. gunner logic is always a marvel.

[spin]

9. I legally carry a handgun for self defense. ...

If I ever have to use it for this purpose it will be most likely because my situational awareness has failed me and I have been caught off guard. "Situational awareness" can be described as being aware of your environment rather than walking around with a cell phone glued to your ear. This tactic alone will enable you to avoid almost all attacks and the best way to survive a fight is not to get into one.

I don't want to be trying to chamber a round in my pistol while my attacker is shooting at me, stabbing me or if he is much larger and younger than I am and is busy pounding the crap out of me.

Of course not all people who have a carry permit agree with carrying a fully loaded weapon. My son in law for example never has a round in the chamber of his pistol. He assures me that he can rack a round one handed using his pants belt. I suspect that in a stressful situation such as an attack, that could lead to him shooting himself in the leg which would not increase his chances of survival.

I realize that you have probably formed an opinion that concealed carry is a bad thing and you have no interest in listening to facts that contradict your preconceptions. I have no problem with that but if I am right, why bother responding to my post with a weak response such as "gunner logic is always a marvel." as it doesn't add anything to the discussion?

Because I have some knowledge of the subject, I could argue for your side of the debate better than you have done in your reply. Of course, that is your job and not mine.

I am often amazed that those who oppose concealed carry as well as those who oppose gun ownership in general and wish to greatly restrict it are not willing to do a little research into the subject. Over the years I have encounter several gun control advocates who could debate the subject and made good arguments that caused me to alter my position. Such posters are few and far between but I look forward to a productive debate with them. All too often gun control debates degenerate into trading insults which is largely a waste of time

[Warren Stupidity]

10. I'd hate to live in your hideous world.

Luckily I don't. My situational awareness is such that I've never needed to consider firing a gun at anyone, I've always managed to avoid those sorts of situations.

[spin]

11. I often tell those who ask me about getting a carry permit ...

that merely learning how to be situationally aware is probably all the protection they need.

Guns are not for everybody.

[MineralMan]

4. It's sort of hard to believe, isn't it?

I fly a couple of times a year. Each time I fly, I check to make sure I left my pocket knife at home before I go to the airport. I carry it in my right front pants pocket all the time, but I check to make sure it's not there before heading to catch my flight.

I can't imagine forgetting that I had a firearm, somehow. I really can't.

[onehandle]

5. More stupid people with guns. Big surprise. nt

[Gormy Cuss]

6. Why aren't loaded weapons considered a direct threat?

TSA shouldn't assume that there's no intent. I hope that everyone of those confiscations also involved a lengthy interrogation and that the carriers had their names added to the flagged list of fliers who get this treatment EVERY time.