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US Pilot Arrested for Loaded Handgun in Carry On

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Old 3rd Apr 2014, 18:14
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US Pilot Arrested for Loaded Handgun in Carry On

Loaded handgun at airport gets U.S. pilot arrested in Calgary - Calgary - CBC News

No information on whether licensed in US to carry gun in cockpit.
Posted: Apr 03, 2014 11:39 AM MT| Last Updated: Apr 03, 2014 3:56 PM MT
FFDO status added to story

Last edited by RatherBeFlying; 3rd Apr 2014 at 22:13.
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Old 3rd Apr 2014, 19:27
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Yes it did, he was not qualified to carry on an aircraft in the USA.

A senior U.S. official told CBC News White is not part of the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, whose members are permitted to carry firearms on board planes.
The weapon he was carrying, a Smith and Wesson Bodyguard .380-calibre, is not one of the guns issued to FFDO pilots, the official said.
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Old 3rd Apr 2014, 21:16
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Well if he took the gun out of the US without the right export paperwork,
the US will probably have a quiet little chat with him when he gets home !
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Old 3rd Apr 2014, 21:38
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Well if he took the gun out of the US without the right export paperwork,
the US will probably have a quiet little chat with him when he gets home !
He will probably get by on that one, the USA does not really care about exportation. They would be concerned with him carrying and not being FFDO on an aircraft and his company has suspended him will probably fire him. His largest problem is with the Canadian authorities, this could mean prison time in Calgary.
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Old 3rd Apr 2014, 21:41
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"He will probably get by on that one, the USA does not really care about exportation."


News to me.

They make you run through hoops to get export paperwork !

And a few have ended up in prison for not doing it.

But as you say, the other transgressions will get him anyway.
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Old 3rd Apr 2014, 21:44
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And how did he get the gun in Calgary then. Did he purchase it there or was it in his bag since he left home (presumably not in Calgary)?
1st sentence 2nd paragraph

Joshua Petty White, a pilot for SkyWest Airlines, failed to declare his gun when he landed in Canada from the U.S. on March 27
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Old 3rd Apr 2014, 23:57
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White is not part of the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, whose members are permitted to carry firearms on board planes, according to a senior U.S. official.
If he was, would they confirm the fact?
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 01:04
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Originally Posted by 500N
"He will probably get by on that one, the USA does not really care about exportation."


News to me.

They make you run through hoops to get export paperwork !

And a few have ended up in prison for not doing it.

But as you say, the other transgressions will get him anyway.
Exporting firearms, as in never to come back, requires a lot of paperwork. If a US resident takes guns to Canada, to hunt, it's not that strict. Canadians on the other hand don't like handguns in hands of people without a lot of paperwork and locks/cases.

This guy's in a heap of trouble.
 
Old 4th Apr 2014, 03:02
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My airline unfortunately, don't know the pilot however.
Said pilot went through a "known crew member" line in the US to make it inside the sterile area. This program bypasses security for pilots and flight attendants who present proper badging. There is some random searches, but mostly it speeds you through the process effortlessly.

I suspect the TSA will react to this negatively. A blanket party awaits this pilot if this cancels or changes the Known crew member program.
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 03:34
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Yes screw up our known crew member affects us all.
Who cares what he took into the non Gun Canada.
TSA asks you when going through do you have fire arms etc.
If you do then you have to show the credentials as FDO.
TSA will laugh this off, tough stuff Canada.
2 bad 2 sad, get over it.
its not like the Canadian officials caught some known bad guy.
Just some ones there flexing muscles over stupid areas that dont amount to a hill of beans.
Laughing here in the USA as why this is even reported.
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 03:38
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See news that he was a FDO.
If not he was wrong.
Think the whole story will be maybe he had a gun not approved by the TSA FFDO program.
News seems to stretch things to make headlines.
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 03:49
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Earl, actually I lot of people do care. It was against the law! To not even pause to think that carrying a handgun across an international border might be breaking the law is justification to throw the book at this fellow. It is a insular attitude that is far too prevalent... But, best of luck to him...!
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 08:41
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Well done Earl for breaking the stereotype mold. I didn't realise that sarcasm and irony were so vibrantly alive in the USA. (Along with excellent grammar and spelling.)

BTW there is no reason to carry an unauthorised firearm in the cockpit, nor to carry one into another sovereign state. If that is what he did knowing the rules he should be hung out to dry.
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 10:01
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Beardy: BTW there is no reason to carry an unauthorised firearm in the cockpit, nor to carry one into another sovereign state. If that is what he did knowing the rules he should be hung out to dry.
Fair go. He was probably just thinking " I need to look after myself".
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 10:49
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Unfortunately, he is now branded as a criminal for doing something stupid without proof of criminal intent, and the US bureaucrats will have yet another opportunity to make life more difficult for those crewmembers who chose not to be stupid.

Thanks, dumba$$.
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 11:01
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Glad to see one less Wyatt Earp gun toting putz removed from the system.
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 13:02
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carrying a gun without the necessary paperwork is like piloting an aircraft without a license. at best it's a really, really stupid thing to do. rules, regulations and sop's exist for a reason, and you better have a damn good explanation if you chose to deviate. constructively criticizing some useless bureaucratic requirements is another thing, but reckless contempt will only make things worse for everybody. this guy probably needs help.
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 14:12
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Originally Posted by deptrai
carrying a gun without the necessary paperwork is like piloting an aircraft without a license. at best it's a really, really stupid thing to do. rules, regulations and sop's exist for a reason, and you better have a damn good explanation if you chose to deviate. constructively criticizing some useless bureaucratic requirements is another thing, but reckless contempt will only make things worse for everybody. this guy probably needs help.
In the US, where the right of adults to carry a gun unless specifically disqualified by some past deed, etc, is assumed, then "accidentally" (because who can prove intent?) carrying a gun without the necessary paperwork may well be like forgetting to renew your car licence and doing something you're qualified to do but technically not licensed to do.

But the situation elsewhere in the first world is more akin to driving a tank, or as you say, piloting an aircraft, without suitable documentation demonstrating competence and authority.

We do not take it for granted that all adults are safe to be left in possession of lethal weapons unless proven otherwise. Instead we expect to see a demonstrated understanding of how to carry such a weapon safely and a rather good reason to be permitted to do so.

Carrying a gun, especially a loaded gun, without suitable permission is generally regarded as very close to proving an intention to use a gun for illegal purposes.


Furthermore, one of the reasons often cited for owning guns in the USA is for self protection in a society which is already flooded with guns. The argument seems to go something like "just one more gun" causes no real increase in the total danger to the public, while providing the owner with protection from all the other guns.

In a society which does not have this flood of guns, this argument falls apart and "just one more gun", especially an unauthorised, undocumented and loaded gun, is rightly regarded as increasing the total danger to the public and as a very serious matter. Many Americans appear culturally incapable of grasping this point of view and simply cannot understand why we regard guns as such a serious threat elsewhere.

Just how much trouble this guy is going to be in is probably largely a matter of his apparent intent (was it a genuine innocent mistake or an attempt to circumvent Canadian firearms laws?) and if it appears to be an innocent mistake, how understanding Canadian authorities are of the very different culture south of the border.

As a pilot, it's hard to see carrying a loaded hand held cannon (this was no pea shooter!) in the same bag he uses when flying, and then forgetting to remove it for work, as plausible. So much of flight safety is about recognising opportunities for things to go wrong and avoiding them.

Furthermore, he got the thing into Canada and was caught on the way out next day, so unless he managed not to noticed a loaded 38 in with his clean shirt and toothbrush, he had ample opportunity to declare to Canadian authorities that he had stuffed up and hand the gun in for safe transportation back to the USA, or to abandon it down a drain or in a lake, rather than trying to carry it back into the USA.

I can't see him convincing anyone this was an innocent mistake.

Last edited by nonsense; 4th Apr 2014 at 14:30.
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 14:51
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Many Americans appear culturally incapable of grasping this point of view and simply cannot understand why we regard guns as such a serious threat elsewhere..........

As a pilot, it's hard to see carrying a loaded hand held cannon (this was no pea shooter!)
This post is quite a bit judgmental and also ignorant. The traveling masses generally understand greatly the cultural differences and take great measures not to act like the stereotypical American abroad.

You are ignorant about this firearm, yes this would be considered a short barrel compact pea shooter (gut gun), could be carried easily in a pants pocket. The .380 slug is typically 90 grain, A standard carry would range from a 9mm that is typically 125 grain to the 45 ACP (the smallest fire arm I would call a hand cannon) which typically has a 230 grain slug. At 20 ft I would consider it a challenge to strike body mass with the .380 bodyguard.

I believe you may be confusing the .380 with a .38 that is a larger slug with a hotter load.

I once had a co worker that confused his work back pack with his back pack that he carries about and also takes to the range, he hit security with a loaded fire arm, he was fired and appeared before a judge. Several fellows appeared to give the judge confidence in his character, he had no ill intent was just a fool and paid for it.
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Old 4th Apr 2014, 15:02
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YAD5 - Yet another delusional post by 500N

Originally Posted by 500N
News to me.

They make you run through hoops to get export paperwork !

And a few have ended up in prison for not doing it.

But as you say, the other transgressions will get him anyway.

Another post about something you know nothing about?

You can walk out of the US with whatever you want. They aren't deeply concerned about that.


You can do the paperwork, you can ignore it, doesn't matter when you are gone. We don't have Schutzstaffel at the border demading papieren. I think you live more in a 30fps dreamland than the real world!

Originally Posted by nonsense
In the US, where the right of adults to carry a gun unless specifically disqualified by some past deed, etc, is assumed,
Your username is highly accurate! I did read every word you (apparently randomly) wrote after that sentence - but there is no reason any other reader of this thread needs to. It is devoid of fact, and the reasoning therefore suspect. Sheer nonsense. Kudos for attempting to argue the case a priori!

Last edited by Oro-o; 4th Apr 2014 at 15:15.
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