December 05, 2011
Why to not Fly
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/norfolk/tsa-stops-teen-for-gun-design-on-purse?hpt=us_bn5 -- for when if no longer have it on the Internet:
"TSA stops teen for gun design on purse
TSA: Replica weapons banned since 2002Updated: Monday, 05 Dec 2011, 7:30 AM EST
Published : Monday, 05 Dec 2011, 7:20 AM EST
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A flair for fashion got a Jacksonville teenager in trouble in Norfolk.
Vanessa Gibbs was not allowed to board a flight at Norfolk International Airport because her purse had a gun design on it.
A TSA agent told her it was a federal offense.
"It's in the shape of a gun. I'm like, it's a design on the purse. How is it a federal offense?" said Gibbs.
Agents determined the gun was not real, but told Gibbs to check the bag or hand it over.
She missed her scheduled flight on Southwest Airlines but was put on a later flight.
The TSA stands by the rule, saying replica weapons have been banned since 2002"
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/replica
Definition of REPLICA
1: an exact reproduction
2: a copy exact in all details
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bas-relief
Definition of BAS-RELIEF
: sculptural relief in which the projection from the surrounding surface is slight and no part of the modeled form is undercut; ...
Origin of BAS-RELIEF
French, from bas low + relief raised work
First Known Use: 1667
So let's us look at the weapon in question:
Is this a Replica, something that looks like a real gun? Or is it ART?
No doubt that no one with an I.Q. over room temperature knows that a clutch purse is ART, not a replica of a weapon. I have pictures in the pages of the American Rifle that are more a replica than this lady's purse.
If we need security we need people with the intelligence to know the difference between real and art. The Goons in the TSA cannot stop a terrorist.
Posted by Paladin at December 5, 2011 05:17 PM