Fun with the TSA

[katmandu]

Last time I was at DFW, I was at a crowded checkpoint, and in all the hussle I forgot to remove my comb in my back jeans pocket. Not a holster, but still a big mistake.

I stepped through the scanner - red light went off, some big TSA dude grabbed my belt from behind and started patting me down right there (yes, in front of the scanner and around my back pocket). Another one came up & swabbed my hands & I had to wait for that result to come back before they let me through.

Sad state of affairs.

[Longshot38]

Seems like an unnecessary hassle to bring upon yourself. Why not just put it in the checked luggage?

Because when I arrive at the airport my checked luggage is packed and ready to go. I make a point to have all this squared away for the sole purpose of making things run smoothly and be as efficient as possible. Case in point today. Walk up with boarding pass, hand them the bag, declare firearm, and done. No need to disrobe for this.

I'm fairly certain that if you tried that in NJ, DC, or similar parts of the country, the best you could hope for would be to come away without your holster.

The other possibilities go rapidly downhill from there.

Never mind it's not against the law - things are done just because they can be, and those actions are backed by the full force of the government.

You won't win that battle.

Alright on what grounds. As stated by the agent today "It's not part of a gun", not a single law or statue exist restricting the wear of a empty holster, and no where in the rules laid out by the ATF, FAA, TSA, or any other alphabet agency are holsters mentioned or defined as part of a firearm. Trust me many, including LE, have tried to play mental polo with me and skirt the law. And to date it has never worked.

Why did you leave your holster on during the body scan? Did you leave your belt and shoes on too?

Well lets see they rules as defined by the TSA. Remove laptops from your carry-on to be scanned separately, remove shoes and belt, and empty pockets. Alright check I did all of that. But no where does to say remove holster. Nor do they even mention a holster.

[Shinesintx]

I may start putting my holster into my backpack that I carry on...could be fun.

[Excaliber]

Seems like an unnecessary hassle to bring upon yourself. Why not just put it in the checked luggage?

Because when I arrive at the airport my checked luggage is packed and ready to go. I make a point to have all this squared away for the sole purpose of making things run smoothly and be as efficient as possible. Case in point today. Walk up with boarding pass, hand them the bag, declare firearm, and done. No need to disrobe for this.

I'm fairly certain that if you tried that in NJ, DC, or similar parts of the country, the best you could hope for would be to come away without your holster.

The other possibilities go rapidly downhill from there.

Never mind it's not against the law - things are done just because they can be, and those actions are backed by the full force of the government.

You won't win that battle.

Alright on what grounds. As stated by the agent today "It's not part of a gun", not a single law or statue exist restricting the wear of a empty holster, and no where in the rules laid out by the ATF, FAA, TSA, or any other alphabet agency are holsters mentioned or defined as part of a firearm. Trust me many, including LE, have tried to play mental polo with me and skirt the law. And to date it has never worked.

Why did you leave your holster on during the body scan? Did you leave your belt and shoes on too?

Well lets see they rules as defined by the TSA. Remove laptops from your carry-on to be scanned separately, remove shoes and belt, and empty pockets. Alright check I did all of that. But no where does to say remove holster. Nor do they even mention a holster.

That's an interesting campaign you're running.

I hope you'll continue to keep us up to date on new developments.

[sjfcontrol]

I don't ever put my wallet through the X-ray machine. I've got phone #s memorized, data on my laptop backed up, and nothing irreplaceable in my carry-on or shoes, but if I accidentally go on an adventure the ID & credit cards in that wallet might be my only way to get home in time to keep my job.

So far the TSA hasn't cared. It doesn't set off metal detectors, and I always opt-out of the cancer machines.

Hehh -- Several years ago we went to visit the Space Center in Houston. They make you walk through metal detectors prior to boarding the busses for the various tours. The security guy INSISTED that all wallets be placed in the plastic bowl before passing thru the detector, claiming the mag-stripe on credit cards can set off the detector. I don't like letting my wallet out of my own grasp, much less out of view. (He was probably passing all wallets past an RFID reader to capture tagged cards).

[Westfield]

I think common sense should be the order of the day here. I fly often and check everything pistol related including the holster. Why call attention to yourself for no reason ?

[Dave2]

I think common sense should be the order of the day here. I fly often and check everything pistol related including the holster. Why call attention to yourself for no reason ?

It's not for no reason... you get to have fun with the TSA.

[sjfcontrol]

I think common sense should be the order of the day here. I fly often and check everything pistol related including the holster. Why call attention to yourself for no reason ?

It's not for no reason... you get to have fun with the TSA.

Some people just can't resist "poking the bear"

[pmcdn]

They still make you take your shoes off. I hear from time to time that the system testers get firearms through periodically. They can't successfully filter out all firearms and we still have to remove our shoes?

The TSA is incompetent and doesn't keep anyone any safer.

[Dave2]

I hear from time to time that the system testers get firearms through periodically.

From time to time? Dunno what the actual current rate is, but back in 2006 over 70% of the guns, knives, and (fake, I hope) bombs got through security. The TSA says they've gotten better, but they won't release the current numbers to prove it, and a more recent article seems to directly contradict the TSA's claims.

[kjolly]

The belt thing has stopped my flying permanently. The way I am built if I take the belt off the pants will fall. Having to juggle the carryon, and hold the pants up while I retreat to a restroom is embrassing and difficult. As much as I love flying, I no longer choose this form of transportation.

[Bart]

They still make you take your shoes off. I hear from time to time that the system testers get firearms through periodically. They can't successfully filter out all firearms and we still have to remove our shoes?

The TSA is incompetent and doesn't keep anyone any safer.

Like Obama himself. Looks good to the masses while being less effective than nothing at all.

[n5wmk]

In the vein of "poking at the bear", I was traveling from Houston Hobby to Dallas Love last year. I had extra time, and thought I'd see if my Texas CHL would be an acceptable form of ID. It wasn't (sort of). The TSA guy was nice and courteous about it, and said that they considered it a "secondary" form of ID - that if a traveler had lost their driver's license or didn't have a passport, then they could use the CHL to help verify identity. So I presented my DL and went through with no problems.

The TSL's website has a list of acceptable identification forms:


Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight.

Acceptable IDs include:

U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
DHS "Trusted Traveler" cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents, and DOD civilians)
Permanent Resident Card
Border Crossing Card
DHS-designated enhanced driver's license
Drivers Licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)

I guess the TSA doesn't consider the DPS an equivalent of the DMV? And I guess they don't see the CHL as a state-issued photo ID, either.

[sjfcontrol]

In the vein of "poking at the bear", I was traveling from Houston Hobby to Dallas Love last year. I had extra time, and thought I'd see if my Texas CHL would be an acceptable form of ID. It wasn't (sort of). The TSA guy was nice and courteous about it, and said that they considered it a "secondary" form of ID - that if a traveler had lost their driver's license or didn't have a passport, then they could use the CHL to help verify identity. So I presented my DL and went through with no problems.

The TSL's website has a list of acceptable identification forms:


Adult passengers (18 and over) are required to show a U.S. federal or state-issued photo ID in order to be allowed to go through the checkpoint and onto their flight.

Acceptable IDs include:

U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
DHS "Trusted Traveler" cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents, and DOD civilians)
Permanent Resident Card
Border Crossing Card
DHS-designated enhanced driver's license
Drivers Licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)

I guess the TSA doesn't consider the DPS an equivalent of the DMV? And I guess they don't see the CHL as a state-issued photo ID, either.

DPS doesn't consider the CHL a primary ID either -- otherwise you wouldn't need to give both DL and CHL (when not driving). The problem apparently is that the photos are not guaranteed to be of you. IOW, you could send in somebody else's pictures with your application.

[leftyonly]

DPS doesn't consider the CHL a primary ID either -- otherwise you wouldn't need to give both DL and CHL (when not driving). The problem apparently is that the photos are not guaranteed to be of you. IOW, you could send in somebody else's pictures with your application.

Now the fingerprint service also takes and submits a digital photo that can be cross-checked with applicant submitted photos....I suppose that is why the signature requirement on the back of the photos was dropped....