I don't understand this at all.

Though the stuffed bear was quite large, it was smaller than a human being, and human beings are screened by the millions each day.

It appears to be too large to fit in the carry-on x-ray scanner. However, there are protocols for screening items which can't be x-rayed, such as photographic film.

The bear could easily - and quickly - have been screened by the same means used to screen human beings and medical assistive devices: WTMD combined with ETD swabbing, followed by vigorous hands-on groping.

But instead, the TSOs chose to take the lazy way out. "It's weird, so it's prohibited."

And Saddington Bear gets left by a trash can in an airport. Maybe Tom Hanks can make a movie about this one...