A *POSITIVE* TSA Story
 

Last Thursday, I flew out of RNO bound for BWI. My wife had passed away two weeks prior, and I was taking back seven of her guns (six handguns and a shotgun) that had belonged to her (we're both ex-cops, but she was much more fond of guns than me). I had the handguns in three hardshell cases, two to a case, all inside a softside suitcase. I had left the locks of the cases off so that I could show them to be unloaded, put the "UNLOADED FIREARM" tags into the cases, then lock the cases in the presence of the TSA agent. Everything went fine until one set of locks wouldn't fit on one of the cases. I had the right set of locks in another bag, but it has already gone down the belt.

The TSA agent told me that I couldn't check the bag with an unlocked gun case, but couldn't offer a solution. He did offer to call a supervisor. The supervisor suggested that I could go to the airport gift shop and buy two more locks (each case required two), and that he would remain with the bag until I could get back. I did and he did. The case was locked and everything arrived safely.

In the light of all the forum threads that criticize what is perceived as bad behavior by the TSA, I thought I'd post a story where reasonableness and a clear desire to help resolve a passenger's problem and still do his job prevailed.

My condolences on the loss of your wife.

I'm sorry to hear of your wife's passing. Thanks for posting some positive info re: TSA, they are possibly the easiest target in the gov't for critics and they can use a little good news.

I am sorry for your loss, and encouraged that there are some TSA types with some degree of common sense.

So sorry about your wife.

Copwriter:

Very sorry to hear about your loss. It is good to know that TSA behaved well during such a time.

Really sorry about your loss. I was wondering where you've been.

Sorry to read about your loss. Hope you'll do better soon.

Bummer man. I'm glad they treated you with dignity and respect (no laughing, I'm serious) during such a trying time.

I hope you're doing ok.

Copwriter,

Please accept my condolences on your wife's passing. You were very kind to pass along kudos to the TSA doing right by a grieving passenger. Credit where it's due, they came through on this one.

--Paul

I am sorry for your loss.

Copwriter, please accept my condolences on the loss of your wife. It was good of you to post at what must be a very difficult time in your life.

Red

The TSA in this case acted as would be expected in any other place in the world, and even in any place in the USA outside of a TSA facility.

The problem is, as it always has been with the TSA, that they are unpredictable when it comes to common sense and courtesy.

When I visit Nordstroms, for example, I expect to be treated in the manner to which I have been treated before in a Nordstroms. And not like a third-world bazaar one time and then like a boot-camp uniform depot the next and then like a visiting sultan at Harrods after that. Is that too much to ask for??

And Copwriter, may you find happiness in some form after the necessary grieving that follows the loss of your loved one. I am very sorry to learn of this passing.

Thanks for the kind words
 

Thanks to everyone that offered condolences on the unexpected passing of my wife. This tragedy taught me that I have friends where I didn't always expect them. My wife had worked for two law enforcement agencies, but only for a total os 2 1/2 years, and that was 13 years ago. Still, there were elements of the honor guards from both of the departments she had worked for, as well as from the state highway patrol. None had been asked to come - they all called to volunteer their services. This meant a great deal to me and to her family.

But, back at the TSA department: one of the reasons that I haven't been on the forum so much in recent months is that I got a new job about six months ago. It requires a lot more time and travel than what I was doing before. Like other people here, I occasionally get annoyed with the TSA and their inconsistent policies from one airport to another. But the annoyance is more with the policies than with the people. I have yet to be treated discourteously by a TSA employee, and there are the ones like I described in the first post of this thread, that go out of their way to do their jobs and help passengers. Too frequently, I think they get a bad rap.

copwriter,

very sorry about your loss.

its nice to hear a positive story about the tsa ... as too many times people don't post this info.

thanks & my condolences,
chris

p.s. congratulations on the new job :)