As the editor and owner of Cuffed and Wanted, Los Angeles County's only crime newspaper, I am very concerned about all crimes involving firearms.
Each week the TSA releases a report of items confiscated from carry-on baggage. The single week of 5/17 thru 5/23 saw a record of 65 firearms confiscated with 54 of those being loaded. In addition to the 65 firearms, they also confiscated 12 stun guns from Las Vegas, Sacramento, Albuquerque, Baltimore, Detroit, Washington Dulles, Phoenix, San Francisco, St. Louis and San Juan. Also found were razor blades concealed in shoes and underwear, a 3” knife in a DVD case and dozens of pocket & combat style knives and ninja stars. Some people may think the weapons were left in the baggage by accident. I guess it is possible the passenger in Salt Lake City forgot he had a fully loaded .22 caliber firearm strapped to the side of his prosthetic leg, inside his boot. TSA officers also found realistic replica firearms, bb and pellet guns, Airsoft guns, brass knuckles, ammunition, batons and lots of sharp pointed objects.
I enjoy flying and understand TSA inspections are now part of the norm. Normally, about 30 firearms plus potential weapons are confiscated each week. This makes me feel safer about flying. But then the frustration of waiting in the lines sets in and I want to yell at the people that intentionally or accidently bring these items to the airport in their carry-on luggage. Inspections will continue and get more detailed as long as the TSA keeps finding items like these in carry-on luggage. These inspections come with a financial cost that we the consumers have to absorb.
The next time you take a friend to the airport, think about this article and ask them if they have anything in their carry-on luggage that might cause a problem. If the flying public doesn’t remember, maybe the friends that take them to the airport should help them not get arrested and pay a fine of up to $7,500.
It is legal to fly with firearms, knives, ammunition or most of the other items confiscated by the TSA. You simply need to put them in your checked baggage and declare the item when you check in. Checking baggage with most airlines now does come with a cost. As much as these fees are frustrating to the flying public, they are still less than the $7,500 fine.
For those of you that may question my facts, here is the link to the TSA with the information http://blog.tsa.gov/2013/05/tsa-week-in-review-record-65-firearms.html
