the ultimate security idiocy
Flying from Baltimore the other day I was told an armed secret service officer would be on the flight. He eventually arrived - somewhat upset.. .This fellow cleared the metal detector by presenting his papers and identification - he was carrying a pistol. Then he was told to remove his overcoat, which he did. Then the screener tried to get him to remove his jacket which was the only thing preventing his concealed weapon becoming a highly visible weapon! The screeners then, in public view, searched his suitcase pulling out his bullet proof vest for the public to see. As you can imagine, a bullet proof vest is not the easiest thing to stow in a carry-on suitcase. As the agent tried to re-organise his suitcase the screener growled at him "don't touch that suitcase". . .The implications of this idiocy are frightening. What would have happened if the half-somnolent National Guard soldiers with rifles became aware that a passenger, who was being screened, was carrying a firearm? It's possible they would have assumed this was an attempt to smuggle a firearm through security and all hell would break loose.The secret service is supposed to be the apex of national security yet this agent was given the works by a screener that the US government was calling underqualified just four months ago. The local airport law enforcment walks through security with no checks but a GENUINE, VERIFIED, BADGE AND GUN CARRYING SECRET SERVICE AGENT IS INSPECTED.
Visions of James Bond (00 rating) problem with security screener goes away.. .To give the agent a lot of credit he did unload his complaints on me but he appears to have handled the ridiculous affair in security with admirable coolness unlike the fellow who got involved with AA.