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19 Comments

  1. The quality of the personal at TSA and their rules and regulations have ruled out the possibility of me flying. People that have hurt me in my life are people that don’t know what they are doing and TSA is up there at the head of the list.

    On a related subject when I go into a business and see signs saying ‘ No firearms allowed ‘ I always ask if its safe in here!

  2. Same here. Stopped all commercial flights years ago. Don’t miss anything about it. And I get that little twinge when I see the “No Firearms Allowed” sign. Yeah right, for everyone except the perp.

  3. We used to fly 3-4 times a year to visit family. Now we may fly once a year, but travel by car the rest of the times…adds time, but the control over your own self aspect cannot be ignored.

  4. Whenever I see the “No firearms allowed” (here in Texas, the required “Code .30-06” language) posted on the door of a business I’m entering, I make it a habit of going back to the car to unholster, then I enter to store and inform the manager (nicely) that the sign has cost him/her my business, as it does NOTHING but threaten MY safety. I then leave, never go back, and spread the word amongst my friends. Several years ago this cost Jared’s Jeweler $ 2,000, when I was in a rare mood to shower my wife with traditional baubles – after informing the manager, I went down the street to another large jewelry story without the sign on the door!

    Though we Liberty-loving people have a tendency to respect private property (duh!), and willingly abide by the business owner’s wishes, a strong theoretical argument can be made that they have no right to run a public business which deprives us of of our Constitutionally-secured Right to self-defense. I wouldn’t push it, but it’s an interesting thought.

  5. SH, where do you get groceries? Honest question. I am in Texas as well. I see this sign everywhere. A Walmart here in Texas had a active shooter a year or two ago and I wondered why he didn’t obey the sign…/sarcasm.

    I have wondered where one is supposed to buy the things we need. It is becoming that I have to disobey the laws or not shop anywhere. Quite frustrating.

  6. I haven’t flown since 2004, when I left a job that required nationwide seasonal photography. If it’s too far to drive, it’s too far.

    I will not be harassed, groped, questioned, backscattered or appraised by slack jawed mouth breathing Quislings who filled TSA jobs because the standards for security guard were too high.

    I also have the little pre-printed business cards that politely inform a business owner of my decision to forego trading with him because he makes me a potential target in his “gun free zone” place of business (reverse contains the Second Amendment to the Constitution of The United States of America).

    I know neither act will make the slightest bit of difference, but my dignity and underwear remain intact, and I’ve taken a small if ineffectual stand for what is right.

  7. TSA is not a perfect institution. What would the critics replace it with.? I don’t recall any hijacking since TSA has been in action .

    This whole debate reminds me of the left demanding the elimination of ICE. If you don’t approve of their every action , eliminate them.

    1. I believe the problem most have with the TSA is the quality of the work force, the manner in which they perform their duties and the laughable structure they use to screen passengers. 5 year old girls and grandmas in a wheelchair with netting needles should not be the focal point of their concerns. At least not yet.

    2. The TSA is far beyond ‘not perfect’. The FAA used to have a “Red Team” that tested security. They got past the TSA over 95% of the time with firearms and explosives shortly after the TSA was formed… and were quickly shut down. The TSA’s own inspector general’s office still gets past them over 90% of the time with prohibited items.

      If the 9/11 hijackers had attempted to go through a TSA-level screening statistically at least 17 would have gotten through. Perhaps there might have been three airplanes hijacked instead of four that day – and that’s the *best case* result. On the low end note that there *was* airport security on and before 9/11. There’s no evidence to support that the TSA has actually improved the “catch” rate for prohibited items.

      All that for just $7.5 Billion dollars a year. What a bargain!

      Now, how do we deal with hijackings? Three ways, two already in place, and one that would cost a lot less than $7.5 billion a year.
      1. Improved cockpit doors. Implemented.
      2. Improved aircrew procedures (for example, putting a galley cart across the aisle when crew are entering/exiting the cockpit in the air). Implemented.
      3. Arm flight crew and/or increase the Air Marshals service. For $7.5B/year would could hire tens of thousands of air marshals – depending on what you assume for total cost of benefits and the like. We’re easily talking enough to put one on half the daily flights in the US. Let’s say than an air marshal only has a 50% chance of foiling a hijacking – oh, look at that, that would *also* have statistically stopped one of the 9/11 planes.

  8. Actually, the ticket is a private contract between the flier and the airline. The captain of the airplane has always had, and still has the final say as to who boards the craft. That’s why if you travel with a checked weapon follow the specific airlines instructions to the letter and ignore the TSA.

    Of course, I have none of these problems as I’ve withdrawn consent to be violated.

  9. If I cant drive to where I need to go, I don’t go. For the majority of people walking this earth, Flying is a convenience disguised as a necessity.

  10. Haven’t flown since 2004 and don’t plan on ever doing it again unless by private means. If freedom loving Americans would adopt that plan, TSA would be gone in a month. Problem is, is that most truly loving freedom Americans already have. The airlines are still in business. Ergo there are not that many freedom loving Americans.

  11. Airports, airlines, and the TSA are making some steps in the correct direction, at least in some areas. Some pilots have recently pushed through a program for the crews to be able to get through the check points without being hassled by the tsa. They are also implementing a program that takes the flight crew and trains them to carry and use firearms inside of an airplane to protect the people on the flight. With this program, even if the company does not like their people carrying or are anti gun, they can’t do anything about it. While it is by no means a perfect solution, it is at least a small step in the right direction.
    Also, for those of you who have abandoned aviation, give general aviation and charter a shot. GA has all of the fun of flying, but you don’t have to deal with all of the garbage from the TSA. It takes a little longer to get around, but the view and fun of being in the air makes it worth it.

  12. What people don’t realize is two years as a TSA screener gives one preference for a better federal job. So lots of these people, obviously, are just putting their time in for up and out. The second class of TSA employees are the unhireables who can’t find work elsewhere. The third group are the “true believers” who truly think that roughly body searching that 95 year lady from Cleveland in a wheelchair is stopping terror. And while we suffer through this probably 90 percent of everything going in the cargo hold goes unsearched. If someone can explain this logic please do so.

  13. TSA discovered almost 4000 firearms in carry on bags in 2017. The majority were loaded .

    We note TSA referred to as Quidlngs , a comment which reflects a lack of historical knowledge .

    If we eliminate TSA is anyone comfortable with being in a plane while some jihadists with a guns decide to make their point?

    I can already anticipate self appointed Air Marshals answering , “Yes but I’d have my gun”
    So now we have a shootout at 39,000ft.

    I’d rather skip that.

    1. Sadly you are correct. I think what most people want is for the TSA to be less oppressive and more effective. I want planes to be safe for travel but I’m not sure the $50 billion a year is well spent.

  14. TSA budget isn’t $50 billion . It’s a bit under $8 billion.

    Here’s a thought. When I clear screening I always thank the TSA guy for his vigilance and trying to keep me alive. They are people trying to do just that and thanking them is good manners.

  15. The point about them screening snacks is true. I flew on Sunday and was instructed to place all snacks in a separate bin. Seems pointless to me.

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