Kim du Toit (who has given me excellent gun-buying advice in the past) has a little anecdote about the efficacy of heightened airport security.
Last time I flew I had a couple of knives with me; I remembered to pack my big one in my checked luggage, but my other was on a keychain I forgot about. The guard wanded me and the device beeped like crazy. "Must be my belt buckle," I told him as I pulled up my shirt, figuring it was the truth. He nodded and waved me through.
When I got home and pulled my car keys out I realized I had had another knife with me the whole time. I can't remember if I pulled it out of my pocket and stuck it in the plate before the metal detector or not. I can only hope they watch for bombs and guns a little more closely.
I haven't written much about this before because it honestly makes me feel nauseous. All that tax money, wasted.
(HT: Donald Sensing.)
I need to start traveling with you, Michael. Every time I fly I go through the metal detector WITHOUT setting it off, but still they feel the need to pull me aside for secondary screening, and of course, find nothing.
Hmmm, my nephew had his pocket knife confiscated this summer when he was flying. Good thing too -he's so dangerous at 10 years old and four feet tall.
I know all of this is for a reason and everyone must be screened. It just seems SO ridiculous sometimes!
I was flying with my 5 year old this Christmas. She is in a wheelchair. They had a special place for us to be screened but I just thought, "Would any mother strap bombs to her child? Especially in America?" They checked her shoelaces to make sure they weren't bombs. Maybe in some countries a parent will make any sacrifice for their beliefs but I would not put my daughter on a plane in order to blow up her, myself, my fiance, our four-year old and all the other passengers on the plane. There's got to be a better screening process. I don't know what it is but someone out there has got to have a better plan.
Sorry - just a little frustrated that a few wackos change such simple things that we always took for granted before.
Petra: The idea is that if people know that certain classes are less likely to be screened then they'll be recruited to carry weapons past security.