I recently flew EWR-LAS-SNA over multiple days.

At EWR - my briefcase loaded with electronics and tools was x-rayed, then hand inspected with swabbing done not just on the outside, but in each compartment that was opened one at a time, then it was x-rayed again with a supervisor reviewing contents as well. 5 minute wait in line - 15 minute check.

At LAS - no line, no check, just x-ray - 1 minute.

At SNA - 1 hour and 25 minutes in line, no check, just x-ray.

Now, which one of these federally supervised (FAA) security checkpoints was operating incorrectly?

When is a bomb risk not a bomb risk? When you're in Las Vegas and Orange.

When is a gun not a security risk? When you're in Syracuse.

The system is broken and has been for years.

For all of those that would say "why pull out my corkscrew" and "good screening would not have stopped the 11th", I say so what.

The next time an unscreend gun is pulled on a plane, or a non-x-rayed piece of checked baggage blows-up, and one or hundreds die, may be the time you realize that we should have federalized the system, and standardized each check-point in the system. I hope that day never comes, but it's foolish to believe that it is so remote a possibility that we need not bother to do anything.