TSA disarms sock monkey. Flying public safe again
#46
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
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Posts: 6,781
Let's review. According to TSA:
Same shape, color, detail as a real gun but only 2 inches long = Realistic
Full size non-functioning implementation of a weapon that is not remotely real (light saber cane) = Realistic
Image of a fictional weapon (Optimus Prime) silk-screened on a t-shirt = Realistic (okay, to be fair, that was the UK not TSA but this idiocy is contagious.)
Embroidered image of a pistol on a purse = Realistic
Child-sized Pirates of the Carribean plastic swords from Disney World = Realistic (enough for the TSA "Occifer" to play with them after confiscating them)
Toy plastic hammer owned by a mentally disabled man = Realistic
If I had a 2" embroidered light saber on a t-shirt, someone in TSA would call it a "realistic replica."
#47
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
Realistic replica by my definition (and according to the training I have had) is something that could easily be confused with a real weapon. In this case, it does not appear to be a realistic replica due to the size. If it is not a functioning weapon, or something that could be easily confused as a real weapon, then there should be no problem with it.
The only case I can see being made for not allowing this item to go is if it is a functioning weapon of some sort - which does not appear to be the case.
Another little known item that can be problematic is cap guns and the caps that go with them, the caps are actually deemed explosives/ammunition depending on which group you listen to. They are not allowed in carryon baggage - so if this item is a functioning cap gun, there may be a technical reason it was not allowed.
The only case I can see being made for not allowing this item to go is if it is a functioning weapon of some sort - which does not appear to be the case.
Another little known item that can be problematic is cap guns and the caps that go with them, the caps are actually deemed explosives/ammunition depending on which group you listen to. They are not allowed in carryon baggage - so if this item is a functioning cap gun, there may be a technical reason it was not allowed.
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,099
I am still here, I believe the article says enough in this case. If it is not a realistic replica, then it should be allowed...
Funny side note, I have a stuffed gorilla named "Monk Monk" that goes on vacation and has his picture taken while doing cool stuff, he carries a miniature gun and knife with him. Of course, he doesn't like to fly, so when I go by air, he stays home...
Funny side note, I have a stuffed gorilla named "Monk Monk" that goes on vacation and has his picture taken while doing cool stuff, he carries a miniature gun and knife with him. Of course, he doesn't like to fly, so when I go by air, he stays home...
The problem seems to be in how the uneducated TSA defines this term.
#49
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta TDK(or care)WIA, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,869
Realistic replica by my definition (and according to the training I have had) is something that could easily be confused with a real weapon. In this case, it does not appear to be a realistic replica due to the size. If it is not a functioning weapon, or something that could be easily confused as a real weapon, then there should be no problem with it.
The only case I can see being made for not allowing this item to go is if it is a functioning weapon of some sort - which does not appear to be the case.
Another little known item that can be problematic is cap guns and the caps that go with them, the caps are actually deemed explosives/ammunition depending on which group you listen to. They are not allowed in carryon baggage - so if this item is a functioning cap gun, there may be a technical reason it was not allowed.
The only case I can see being made for not allowing this item to go is if it is a functioning weapon of some sort - which does not appear to be the case.
Another little known item that can be problematic is cap guns and the caps that go with them, the caps are actually deemed explosives/ammunition depending on which group you listen to. They are not allowed in carryon baggage - so if this item is a functioning cap gun, there may be a technical reason it was not allowed.
So <deleted>, is the clerk that didn't pay attention to the training and thus failed to follow the rules going to be fired?
Last edited by TWA884; Jun 26, 2017 at 3:17 pm Reason: Privacy / Conform to moderator's edit of quoted post
#50
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,099
In my opinion it seems this TSA clerk violated this persons rights, illegally deprived them of property (theft), and violated TSA policy by either not calling police when finding a weapon or violating TSA SOP by calling a harmless item a gun. Not only should the clerk be fired but they should be prosecuted for crimes committed.
Last edited by TWA884; Jun 26, 2017 at 3:17 pm Reason: Privacy / Conform to moderator's edit of quoted post
#51
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,728
These are people who are entirely unemployable in any other position due to their ineducability. Or possibly because they enjoy being thugs. Or both.
#53
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
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Posts: 8,043
Well, that will learn me. Just this weekend I remarked that the TSA must be losing a lot of their stupidity from the lack of threads about stupid things. I state my opinions as I trade stocks, buy before they go down and sell before they go up.
#56
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
I'm a little disturbed by how much this thread has become about <deleted> and his responses (or lack thereof) regarding this incident. Shouldn't this thread be about the sock monkey?
[Four pages in, and nobody's made the obvious joke about sock puppets ... sheesh ...]
Last edited by TWA884; Jun 26, 2017 at 3:18 pm Reason: Privacy / Conform to moderator's edit of quoted post
#58
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,728
We're not talking about a shirt on a sock monkey. We're talking about the TSA's use of their own mysterious "SSI" rules to steal, er, ah, confiscate, uh, hmmm, "appropriate" items for their own use.
The comment was about a shirt with a logo on it that the TSA would then confiscate because it had a "realistic representation of a fictional weapon" on it, i.e., a two-inch lightsaber logo.
The whole sockmonkey gun incident simply reinforces the public perception of the TSA as a collective of defectives with more authority than they should be entrusted.
And that's a good thing, because the TSA is a collective of defectives with more authority than they should be entrusted.
The comment was about a shirt with a logo on it that the TSA would then confiscate because it had a "realistic representation of a fictional weapon" on it, i.e., a two-inch lightsaber logo.
The whole sockmonkey gun incident simply reinforces the public perception of the TSA as a collective of defectives with more authority than they should be entrusted.
And that's a good thing, because the TSA is a collective of defectives with more authority than they should be entrusted.
#59
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,728
It is. It's just unclear if they're talking about the traveling sockmonkey whose toy prop gun was stolen, or the sockmonkeys in the blue shirts with tin badges who stole the toy prop gun from the traveling sockmonkey.
Last edited by TWA884; Jun 26, 2017 at 3:18 pm Reason: Privacy / Conform to moderator's edit of quoted post
#60
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Why would <deleted> have any ability to answer this question? I seriously doubt he has access to the chain of command to know what disciplinary action (if any) is taken against another TSO --- much less have the ability to repeat that information in a public forum. (Look at how many times the official TSA representatives fail to answer questions about personnel actions --- and those are the folks who actually know what's going on.)
I'm a little disturbed by how much this thread has become about <deleted> and his responses (or lack thereof) regarding this incident. Shouldn't this thread be about the sock monkey?
[Four pages in, and nobody's made the obvious joke about sock puppets ... sheesh ...]
I'm a little disturbed by how much this thread has become about <deleted> and his responses (or lack thereof) regarding this incident. Shouldn't this thread be about the sock monkey?
[Four pages in, and nobody's made the obvious joke about sock puppets ... sheesh ...]
Unfortunately, I Bet if I went through the same checkpoint with the same item tomorrow while the same screener was working, I'd get the same result.
Last edited by TWA884; Jun 26, 2017 at 3:16 pm Reason: Privacy / Conform to moderator's edit of quoted post