Another example of US security regulations being 79 times more lax than Europe.
Airport spokeswoman Tina Sharp said the gun's owner was checking luggage for an elk-hunting trip, showing a ticket agent the weapon wasn't loaded. While the owner checked the bolt-action on the rifle...
What the heck was he doing getting a rifle out at the check-in? What sort of a "responsible" firearms owner doesn't know how to unload it correctly
before he packs it? Why on earth didn't police at the airport surround him the instant a weapon was displayed openly?
Unloaded firearms may be brought onto planes as long as airline officials are notified and the weapons aren't loaded.
That's the extent of the limitations?
For any Americans reading this, in the UK and (as far as I am aware) the rest of Europe, a firearm may be carried on board an aircraft only as checked baggage, in a hold which is not accessible in flight. It must be unloaded. Furthermore, carriage of ammunition is subject to the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.
If the aircraft does not have a hold that is inaccessible in flight, then ammunition may not be carried, the weapon must be locked in a strong gun case, fixed to a bulkhead or under cargo so as to be immovable in flight, and the keys kept separately...
In which country would you think a hijack would be easier?
In the meantime, they're getting paranoid about little old ladies (and pax domina!
) carrying knitting needles, for heavens' sakes. The entire thing is a farce, a charade.
[ 24 November 2001: Message edited by: HugMonster ]