Do you expect the security team to be munitions experts?
Yes, that is their job. They are supposed to be there to keep us safe from explosives and other weapons, not just from little old ladies with knitting needles, so they should have an idea what those weapons and explosives look like. To threaten calling in the bomb squad and closing down a major international terminal because a nine-year old kid has some toys, is unprofessional and a waste of everyone's time and money.
And you may find that the captain with bullets had this in mind when he made his unsound judgement. We all know how keen security are to take away your pass, and make you unemployed and unemployable, and if this had already happened amongst his work colleagues, you can bet it would be a part of the decision-making process. Not condoning his ultimate decision of course, but there is a reason for everything - especially when dealing with an intelligent person who has to make critical decisions every day.
So what did lead a rational professional to make such an unsound judgement? Was over-zealous security one of the holes in the Swiss cheese?
Tate