Originally Posted by
pontifex
But if a screening clerk decided to confiscate the pen from a citizen on the grounds that it contained liquid not contained in a magical plastic baggie that protects us all from an imaginary threat, that citizen would of course have no recourse to retrieve his of her property, correct?
Actually, if some idiot screener decided to steal a pretty fountain pen, the owner of said pen WOULD have a simple recourse - he could empty the liquid ink out of the pen into the trash can and continue on with the empty pen in hand, just as someone with a bottle of water has the option of pouring out the water and continuing on with the empty bottle.
Given the nature of this issue, however, the idea that a screener would ever see any difference between a fountain pen and a disposable ballpoint is Ludacris.
Pen is pen. Pen allowed. Grunt, grunt. You have water? Water not allowed! Grunt! WATER! NOT! ALLOWED! GRUNT!