26 Sept 02

On domestic air travel from an LEO friend:

"I flew recently (a week ago) from California to Ohio on Southwest Airlines. I had two checked bags. In one I had a Glock frame and the barrel of an RA-96. In the other, I had the Glock slide, barrel, etc and the rest of the RA-96 (folding stock). Of course, I also had packed the usual assortment of clothing, underwear, and toiletries that any traveling person would have.

Upon arriving at the airport at curbside check in, I was informed that I had been ‘selected' to have my checked bags searched. ‘Fine,' I said. In we went to the desk where two non-English-speaking ‘inspectors ‘ were on hand to check the bags. When they reached the RA-96, and asked me (in broken English) what it was, I produced my badge and told them that it was ‘parts.' Someone who could speak English soon arrived from the airlines, and he also asked me what it was. I again told him it was just parts. I then told him that I would like to see a uniformed officer.

Two unformed officers showed up, and I explained to them that there were no functional weapons in either bag. They asked me if I had declared the ammunition (in several magazines), and I replied, ‘Of course.'

The airline guy said the unbarreled RA-96 ‘looks like a rifle to me.' I politely explained to him that he was mistaking the oprod tube for a barrel. I then showed him that there was no barrel and that, without it, the rest of the whole thing was functionless. The officers immediately agreed with me and then said to the airline guy that there was no problem. Whereupon the airline guy said, ‘Okay, check them through,' and I was on my way. The whole thing took twenty minutes. My two bags arrived, in tact, in Ohio.

When I returned from Ohio, I was again ‘selected' for a bag search. This time, it was even faster. The airline guy there was a competitive shooter. We connected immediately. He instantly recognized that there was not anything in any one bag that could be made to shoot. He said, ‘Of course, you declared the ammunition.' I nodded in agreement. He told the inspectors to close up the bags and send them on. Again, everything arrived at my destination in tact.

I don't know if any of this is typical, but it was my experience. I believe the secret is not to fail the attitude test. I was calm and polite but didn't answer any questions that weren't asked. They ultimately found me boring and profoundly uninteresting."

I don't know what to advise people in this regard, but this is one LEO's experience. None of us like being unarmed, and I'm sure all of us will find a way!

/John