Quote:
Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile
White said that 14 guns were discovered at checkpoints around the country last week. On average, screeners find two guns a day, he said.
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Well now I don't feel so bad. Two years ago I went through security with a pistol in my carry on. I assure you - they did find it.
I was on my way to Canada (of all places to take a pistol!) and had a very early flight - 6am. Last minute, I decided to use a different bag for my carry on, not realizing that in a back compartment was a small pistol that my dad gave me last time I visited him. Well, I'm in screening, shoes off, bag on conveyor, and everything stops. I'm standing there with an employee and some random guy waiting. We're joking about "What did you do?' type stuff. Not long after, when a bunch more TSA people are called over, we realize something is afoot. They ask me (serious puckering at this point) if the black bag is mine. "Uh...yeah?" TSA-"What do you have in the bag sir?" I'm thinking maybe I have a fold out knife in there or something random and unnacceptable that I forgot. "Uhhhh.....keys, hard drive, camera, ....uh..." TSA -nods, calls Sheriff. Then he pulls a pistol case, MY pistol case, out of the bag. It was kind of like that scene in Vertigo when Jimmy Stewart sees the girl falling and gets tunnel vision and zooms in on her. My eyes must have been like saucers. I truly, then, and to this day, do not remember ever putting the gun in there. I felt as if God himself was playing a cruel trick on me and placed it there like friggin magic.
Needless to say, I was "processed". I will say that the Milwaukee County Sheriffs Dept and TSA personal handled the whole thing very professionally. My first words to the sheriff were "I'll cooperate completely - just tell me what to do." Maybe I got off easy. No cavity search, no stick time, not even rude behavior. I was grilled by TSA officials who, justifiably, were finding it hard to believe that I simply did not know how the gun got there. I did tell them that I obviously did it and was not suggesting otherwise, but I really, truly, do not remember doing it.
The following week I was due in court for CCW. I hired a very good liar to stem the tide of judicial wrath. Turns out, I didn't need to. The DA threw it out pretty much the second it hit his desk. Turns out this happens a lot. If you are not a criminal, they will probably not waste any time on you....probably. To top it off, the attorney refunded my fees! What a guy! I bumped him $300 anyway for his time. Later TSA, which is entirely seperate from the courts system, fined me $1500 for being a dumb a$$. I'm not complaining.
Looking back on the whole thing is easier now. I was very embarrassed about it for a long time. I was at the tail end of two weeks of insomnia. It really messes with your head. None the less, I gave all my pistols to my Dad to lock in his gun safe. What if one of my kid's friends would have found it in my house? That bag had been kicked around all over my house for weeks! It could have had a far more tragic ending. One that I'm not willing to chance.
So, on the topic - No - I would not turn it in. I would sneak back out to my car and stow the weapon. I have total respect for TSA and associated law enforcement, but I would rather not incurr their wrath.