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baggage handler ran guns on 17 Delta flights

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baggage handler ran guns on 17 Delta flights

Old 9th Jan 2015, 07:22
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BRE
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baggage handler ran guns on 17 Delta flights

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/op...an-region&_r=0

in a carry-on - mindboggling
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 07:30
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Aside from the obvious security implications, what is the point of "gun running" on a domestic flight?
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 07:31
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"But in the past they have said that cost and potential disruption of airline operations have argued against the use of metal detectors for all workers. The agency insisted it was alert to insiders’ threats and required regular background and criminal checks on employees. This hardly seemed enough after the backdoor path blazed by the Atlanta gun runners."

Just goes to show that cost saving is the number one priority to airlines over safety of passengers and crews.
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 07:46
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"Aside from the obvious security implications, what is the point of "gun running" on a domestic flight?"

Different gun laws in different states. They could have smuggled them in the car, but the likelyhood of some highway trooper picking them up would - sadly - have been higher.
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 10:05
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Amazing the treatment other airport workers get when in UK we are still even to surrender our water bottles of more than 100ml, that's 3.5 fl oz!

Carrying metal cutlery will cause an incident as does a belt buckle that's too big...
But in US airport workers are not screened?
Mind boggling...
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 10:36
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Wondering out loud

Does this maybe mean that the security checks are somewhat over-blown and not really needed or at the very least scaled down? Seeing how the system can be relatively easily defeated.
To be honest, I would prefer a system like at Ben Gurion rather than the dog-and-pony show we have to go through in Europe.
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 10:47
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Meanwhile the War on Terror tm reg takes the guns off little boys' toy soldiers, rigorously confiscates yoghurt and shines torches up little old ladies' skirts in the name of political correctness. I really don't feel safe in airports knowing that there are people who bypass screening either because they work there or because they fit the PC profile.
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 12:34
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Funny thing is I started a thread about this a few weeks ago when the story broke. It was titled "TSA security routinely bypassed" but was deleted by the mods the next day
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 12:36
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To be honest, I would prefer a system like at Ben Gurion rather than the dog-and-pony show we have to go through in Europe.
And at TLV you can carry as much liquid as you want through security and onto the plane. For those of us travelling non-stop and hand luggage only, it makes it far less stressful.
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 12:40
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Aside from the obvious security implications, what is the point of "gun running" on a domestic flight?
AS BRE pointed out different states have different gun laws. I understand that New York State has some of the toughest in the country.
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 18:24
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AS BRE pointed out different states have different gun laws. I understand that New York State has some of the toughest in the country


Have to say this still sounds stupid.
The smugglers could rent a pickup for the price of a flight and drive 10x or more guns to NYC without fear of detection. Did they have a 24 hour delivery guarantee?
Given the state of paranoia prevalent here in the land of the free, I would expect this to be soon characterized as a government ploy to further crack down on travel freedom.
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 22:22
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Now, each airport works out separate security requirements; very few, if any, require physical screening of the full array of workers like airplane cleaners, mechanics and baggage handlers, according to Mr. Schumer.
I find it rather ironic that to comply with requirements of flights TO the USA, our airport has some rather draconian security measures (even for the staff). They even look inside McDonalds lunchboxes. One security guard even looked through the pages of a young engineer's experience logbook (about a quarter the thickness of a paperback).
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 22:38
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So, let me get this straight.
I can't get a half pound of butter or a portion of chicken soup airside at a UK regional airport but in the States I can walk in with an AK47 strapped to my leg?!!
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Old 9th Jan 2015, 22:42
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How dare he muscle in on the Ex Attorney General Fast and Furious plan.
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Old 10th Jan 2015, 02:15
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My guess as to why the did not hire a truck as suggested above - is that they could see this free route worked.

They might have done some dummy runs with simple items and then used the route for profit. It could have continued for a long time and there are doubtless many similar operations running in the USA.

In Africa, it was/is not unknown for an extra (innocuous) package or suitcase to be added to the cargo hold and after departure, one ground handler rings his friend at the destination and tells him that it's on it's way. Taking advantage of opportunity is what human beings do.
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Old 10th Jan 2015, 03:25
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No you cant walk in with a AK 47 strapped to your leg.
But you can check it with checked baggage.
Has to be in approved container and unloaded.
TSA will check it then you lock it before it is sent to baggage handling.
You keep the key.
If carrying ammo you are allowed up to 11 pounds of this in original packaging or approved TSA one.
Original packing means same as you bought it in the box from the store.
You don't need to declare ammo to TSA in checked baggage.
Not allowed in carry on as common sense applies.
This is the approved way in USA domestic flights.
Why this idiot did this is beyond all thinking.
Check the gun and all OK in checked baggage.
Legal way is easy and no questions asked.
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Old 10th Jan 2015, 13:09
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Earl you describe how legal guns can be carried by legal owners. I doubt that the guns smuggled by the baggage handler were for legal use!
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Old 10th Jan 2015, 14:46
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I am surprised the guy with the carry on made it 16 times through secondary screening. don't think as pax I have ever made it 3 legs. This does not add up to me, I just can not see how this would be profitable enough to make it worth it.
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Old 10th Jan 2015, 15:29
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seems pointless to me - he could have just got a mate in Georgia to buy the guns and drive them up to him.....................
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Old 10th Jan 2015, 15:44
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Earl. I'm talking about a member of ground staff (such as my good self) going about their normal duties but due to the draconian measures imposed since 2001, find that they have to go to the most extreme measures just to get a decent bite to eat.
For example, today a colleague of mine was told he could not bring a pot of rice pudding through because "it's not a solid and it weighs more than 100g!"

However it seems in parts of the USA one does not worry about such trivial matters.
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