Et tu, Pilots?

I received an email from Tracy Price of the Passenger-Cargo Security Group ("An Airline Security Trade Association"). It included an attached press release. Captain Price has been sending me Airline Pilot Security Alliance stuff for years. He knows I've been an early and vocal supporter of arming pilots. That's why I was surprised and disappointed by the PCSG release, which protested pending TSA relaxation of rules regarding what passengers are allowed to carry on planes-- we've all shaken our heads at the stories of confiscated nail clippers and other ridiculous examples of heavy-handed bureaucratic overkill. But PCSG is demanding such prohibitions remain in place. Here's the release in total:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact PCSG President Marcus W. Flagg, at 817-800-0866 for more information PCSG has serious concerns about the Transportation Security Administration'’s (TSA) intent to modify the existing list of airport security screening prohibited items. Until the TSA has adequate procedures in place that effectively screen for hostile intent, nothing that can be used as a potential weapon should be allowed in any passenger'’s carry-on baggage. The September 11th hijackers effectively utilized the equivalent of 4-inch blade knives, which were at the time allowed aboard aircraft. A 1992 FAA Special Analysis Security Memorandum covering 9 years, 29 U.S. hijackings and 6 aircraft commandeering incidents states, "Small knives (blade length of 4 inches or less) were the most frequently employed weapon to hijack aircraft." Strengthening of cockpit doors and the presence of Federal Flight Deck Officers (FFDO'’s -– armed pilots) provide deterrence against September 11th style aircraft hijackings. However, allowing passengers to carry potential weapons on board in the cabin, without an effective means of screening for hostile intent, could lead to a new and unforeseen type of airborne terrorism. "“Terrorists are a persistent enemy"”, said First Officer Marcus Flagg, Co-Founder and President of the Passenger-Cargo Security Group (PCSG). "We have provided a level of deterrence against 9/11 style terrorist hijackings with our FFDO program and our hardened cockpit doors. So now the enemy will consider other methods of attacking our country and destroying our airline industry and our nation'’s economy by conducting multiple coordinated terrorist attacks on airline cabins in flight. Federal Air Marshals (FAMS) are on very few flights and allowing those with hostile intent to have small knives and other potential weapons such as scissors and screwdrivers could negate any deterrent value of the FAMS. Thus the TSA's intent to relax restrictions on formerly prohibited items makes no sense." "“The TSA's failure rate for detecting weapons, and other prohibited items, has increased dramatically"”, said First Officer Flagg. "“It may be that the TSA now wants to cynically relax its screening standards possibly to improve their apparent detection performance." PCSG is opposed to any relaxation of screening standards until the TSA can demonstrate conclusively that an effective method of screening individuals for hostile intent has been implemented.

http://www.pcsg.us/

I wrote back:

Tracy, So you don’t trust me with even the basics with which to defend myself? If someone DOES manage to slip by our wonderfully competent TSA, you’re going to come out from behind your locked, reinforced cockpit door with your authorized gun to save me and my family from getting slashed, right? No?

He would not respond on the record, even though he said he "would like to," but insisted anything he told me would need to be kept private. My reply:

No. Sorry, no dice. Your press release saying you don’t trust people like me to have the means to defend ourselves is a matter of public record, and you are publicly asking supporters to pass along announcements that serve your purposes. I’ve had it with elitism, and the “we’ve got ours, now screw the rest of you” mentality, which is what your public message states, regardless of what you say you mean. I’m a lot simpler and less subtle than that—I just do people the honor of saying what I mean the first time. You know as well as I do the government will NEVER develop the ability to read “intent.” That criterion is absurd on its face. That means—-if your words have meaning—-you’ll NEVER change your position. I’ve publicly supported the pilots time after time after time, with: It's Time to Show the Servants Who's in Charge, A Different Kind of War, Inform the Pilots, The Armed Pilot The bulk of the Second Amendment community supported you when all the government was giving you was lip service. Now that your goal is in sight, the appearance is that we are expendable—in more ways than one. You have joined the government in not being satisfied until the people who ultimately pay your salaries are reduced to this. I’m going public with my rebuttal to your latest release. If you want to say something for the record, feel free. Your private, confidential responses do nothing to sway public policy. Your press releases do plenty. No games, Capt. Price. No stealth agendas and no weasel words. No politics, no “art of compromise.” I have neither time nor patience for guile. I’ve tried to befriend the pilots, but it’s a two-way street. My friends don’t want me helpless. You guys have really miscalculated this one. Good people who have supported you in the past are going to be pissed.

I guess it's a typical case of they're getting theirs. I'm very disappointed but too jaded by experience to really be surprised.

What ISN'T Reported

The above screenshot represents emails from TSA about "recovered" firearms collected and compiled by an observant citizen/WarOnGuns Correspondent:

A casual review of TSA-reported violations shows an average of 37 loaded firearms found across the country screened and stopped by security - that from May 23 - Dec 26 2014.

If one believes the reported failure rate of TSA screening or, say even a much-less 10% fail-rate, then one would have to assume that a loaded weapon makes it into the passenger compartment of an aircraft once a day/365.

With 365 days of chance you'd think there would be CATASTROPHE in travel. Yet we know most of the seizures are accidental in nature (non-excusable) and that the ones that make it through to destination are oft times discovered in-route and reported by the passenger later upon arrival.

Because of the LACK OF CATASTROPHE, one HAS to come to the conclusion that these are honest mistakes by honest (white-hat) travellers -- despite what the boogie man infers.

The numbers on all counts may be even greater: This TSA Blog post from August shows "38 Firearms Discovered This Week (32 Loaded)." And while TSA contests reported failure percentages, the point is even more taken.

Speaking of TSA...

Received via email:

TSA is trying to kill the armed pilots program. Pilots are very sensitive to how much stuff they want to lug around on trips. Instead of allowing them to keep the USP compact concealed in a bag of their choice, they will be requiring they be carried in a large metal box, 10 pounds without the gun. Some are already not re qualifying in anticipation of the new rules.

"Any way to source this?" asks I.

The reply:

My dad just called me apoplectic (the gun is the way for them to bypass the slave-training/security but now the inconvenience of the box.....). got done with his requal and they gave him "the box". I'll try to get him to email me a picture. They're very secretive about the whole program for unknown reasons so I doubt there will be a press release.

The picture:

It's the silver one on the left.

I think this would be more effective if they put "GUN" on the side in big red letters.

And I'm told:

For more back story, when the program first started, TSA was going to make them use the smaller box on the right. Due to outcry, they let them carry concealed in a bag of their choice. Now the big silver kevlar "back pack" will be required.

UPDATE: From a different source:

Don't list me as a source (SSI), but it is not silver, and it is not a backpack. I don't have one yet (and will avoid it for as long as possible), but it is black, nylon or perhaps kevlar soft-side case designed to accommodate a lock. Guess they got tired of discharges from the previous idiotic system, so they replaced it with a new idiotic system.

No idea why a discrepancy, but it appears the basic facts are borne out. Maybe they have different models for different pilots...?

We're the Only Ones Just Kidding Enough

Answer truthfully, the TSA worker informed her, and everything will be OK.

Solomon, 5-foot-3 and traveling alone, looked up at the man in the black shirt and fought back tears.

Put yourself in her place and count out 20 seconds. Her heart pounded. She started to sweat. She panicked at having to explain something she couldn't.

Now picture her expression as the TSA employee started to smile.

Just kidding, he said. He waved the baggie. It was his. [More]

Ah yes--the same mentality that pulls the wings off flies.

He has authoritah! You must obey him! Your emotions are his to toy with!

Why shouldn't they be? He's empowered to abuse you with no repercussions. What do you expect--respect?

Thing is, and with many such tales, we know the citizen's name--we don't know who the pig--and that's what he is--is. And we're not going to find out.

Davis said privacy law prevents her from identifying the TSA employee. The law prevents her from disclosing what sort of discipline he might have received.

Pity that. It means when people have finally had enough, they're liable to take it out on the parties who only abetted things through complicity and silence, as opposed to the "Only Ones" actually responsible for generating deserved hatred.

[Via Brian F]

A Mitigating Circumstance?

The insane procedures required by the TSA demands that our pilots to lock and then un-lock their .40 side arms was and is a solid recipe for disaster. Did the TSA deliberately create this bizarre and unconventional Rube Goldberg firearm retention system hoping for this result? The sordid history of the FAA and TSA’s total resistance to the concept of arming pilots to protect Americans is in itself a scandal.

Putting a gun into a holster and then threading a padlock through the trigger and trigger-guard is required every time the pilots enter or leave the cockpit.

Looks like there's more to this story. It's time to find out who was responsible for initially proposing and then ramming this requirement through--as well as his qualifications and credentials that made others think it was a good idea.

We're the Only Ones God-Like Enough

A TSA agent was arrested on January 3rd in Terminal One at LAX, a source told NBCLA. He had just gotten off duty and was behaving erratically, saying, "I am god, I’m in charge." The agent was arrested. [More]

Well, it's not like they don't, as a whole, insist on being be treated like they are.

Not just "Only Ones"--TSA "Only Ones"...

We all saw what happened to Michael Yon, right?

We know the only thing that saved everyone from the crotch bomber was the passengers? That TSA totally, as Obama put it, "blew it"? Just like with the airport worker's bag that cause such panic? Or the honey?

Hey, at least the video cameras were on when one of the "gods" let a man walk under the rope barrier and into the terminal without passing through security. Or were they?

Then there's the old vaudeville joke "Does your dog smell?"

Meanwhile, our overlords are telling us it's because a nomination is being held up. I mean, why shouldn't someone who abuses confidential databases for his own personal use--and then lies to Congress about it-- be in charge of the nation's air security?

We know what the solution is, don't we?

Disarm you and me, of course, silly.

So our gods can get back to the serious business of partying with drugs and securing the one thing they treat with attention--their place in the collective...

And oh, looky here: We're going to be shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on...with our lives.

[Via FFFW]

A Pilot Program

A US Airways pilot’s gun accidentally discharged during a flight from Denver to Charlotte Saturday, according to a statement released by the airline...

A Transportation Safety Administration spokeswoman reached by WCNC Sunday said the pilot is part of TSA’s Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) program, which trains pilots to carry guns on flights...

A statement from TSA said the airplane was never in danger...

Again with the gun went off. Maybe they should have let real professionals train these guys.

Still, I note that--dire predictions notwithstanding, Goldfinger didn't get sucked out of the plane.

[Via Plug Nickel Times]

TSA's Rear-Guard Action

A New Form Of Islamic Terrorism: The Butt Bomber...[More]

I'd meant to say something about this when the story first came out--guess I must have gotten sidetracked.

Anyway, if you thought it was bad when TSA just made you take off your shoes...

[Via W-3]

We're the Only Ones Stripping Enough

A TSA official said the badge and uniform represent "the professionalism of our employees and the seriousness of our work." [More]

Costume = Reality. Good grief, we used to do that when we were little kids--a towel becomes a cape, hold your arms out in front while you run, go "Whhhsssshhh...." through your teeth and suddenly you're  Superman.

Of course, the same could be said of real genuine authentic "Only Ones" complaining about the  TSA Fauxnly Ones.

And speaking of stripping "Only Ones," look what I found.

Gee, wasn't Kwame (How I love ya, how I love ya, my dear old Kwame) one of Furious Mike's fraudulent "authorities"...?

[Via Michael G]

Constitutional Crisis?

Sen. Rand Paul ‘detained’ by TSA in Nashville, TSA denies [More]

It doesn't matter what they call it, in this case, he may really be an exempt "Only One" on the basis of Constitutionally-required separation of powers:

The Senators and Representatives shall ...be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

I'm not a lawyer, but it will be interesting to see if this is an issue. Reps have made such claims for much more far-fetched reasons...

We're the Only Ones Uncited Enough

On Friday, a Transportation Security Administration agent stopped a Chesapeake man with a .22-caliber revolver in his carry-on bag, according to the release. He was cited, a TSA spokeswoman said.
On Monday, a TSA agent stopped a Norfolk woman with a .40-caliber handgun in her carry-on, according to the release. Because she's a police officer and allowed to carry her weapon, she was not cited, [More]

Meaning in his own way, the man is an Only One too -- as in the only one penalized and getting a criminal referral.

[Via LB]

I'm Glovin' It!

From Michael G:

WND has an article claiming that TSA personnel performing "Enhanced Pat Downs" do not regularly change their latex gloves between passengers.

This got me speculating, the hard part of bio warfare is not the disease, but spreading it. Aerosol delivery is really pretty inefficient. But imagine a suicide bio bomber infected by a lethal disease spread by skin to skin contact booking an airline flight and refusing to go through the scanners? Then if the TSA personnel that performed the pat down failed to follow proper glove discipline he would spread it to every other passenger he searched until he finally changed his gloves. Possibly himself if he didn't know the proper way to remove gloves.

That and I'd be interested to know who their glove supplier is, whether controls are in place to prevent bio agents being placed in/on them during manufacturing/packaging, and whether distribution chain of custody controls are in place up to the time they are issued to the gropers...

Be something if they're made in China, wouldn't it?

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?

Disclosure: TSA Cannot Verify Employees’ Criminal Histories ... Congress: Thousands of TSA IDs, badges still missing [More]

Rigorous!

[Via Jess]

We're the Only Ones Forming a Perimeter Enough

There is an armed TSA bureaucrat sitting at a desk where you exit the terminal area and go into baggage claim.  He sits about ten paces from the first baggage carousel, where the shootings occurred.  Despite this, the news is reporting that the Fort Lauderdale shooter reloaded twice, and then when he ran out of ammo began walking out of the airport, at which point the cops finally emerged from their “perimeter” and arrested him.  But not after he murdered five people and shot eight others without any interference at all by the TSA, state police, or county cops who are always crawling all over the Fort Lauderdale airport like ants at a picnic. [More]

Hey, if they'd confronted him, think of how much worse it could have been! And if trained professionals feel that way, imagine the carnage if amateurs tried to get involved. Especially if they're haters. Besides, it's more important for some people to make it home than others.

[Via Jeet]

Mad Maxie: Jury Road

A college student was sexually molested at LaGuardia Airport by a uniformed TSA agent who demanded she go into a bathroom with him after she got off a flight so she could be searched for a weapon, sources told The Post. The 22-year-old victim, who is Korean, had gotten off a Southwest Airlines flight from Salt Lake City around 8 p.m.Tuesday when the agent, identified as Maxie Oquendo, 40, approached her near the B4 gate of Terminal B. [More]

What do you think? It's not a common name, he works for DHS and he's from the area. Interesting profile picture choice...

Plus he's "friends" with a "TSA Supervisor" who could not make me feel safer, what with bragging about reckless extreme speeding on a public road -- talk about Opposite Day "progressive" transportation security in action!  Nice booty shots and gang poses, too!

[Via Harvey]

TSA Grounding Melton

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton has carried his guns aboard commercial aircraft but has been asked to no longer fly armed, a federal transportation official said.

Naturally, he's one of the Bloomberg 15. He's also trying to ban gun shows in Jackson.

Impersonating a police officer? Why is TSA asking him? Why aren't they arresting him?

"This is Not a Right"

Kevin Reece relates the outrageous tale of Cecelia Beaman, a middle school principal victimized by TSA JBTs for accidentally having a bread knife.

It's what Reece doesn't say that catches my attention. Like most Establishment reporters, he doesn't dig very deep.

For example:

"...a security screener announced..."

"...screeners refused to give her paperwork or documentation..."

"'They said "no" and they said it's a national security issue. And I said what about my constitutional rights? And they said "not at this point ... you don't have any".'"

Who "announced"?

Who "refused"?

Who "said"?

Do these people have names? Why do we know private citizen Cecilia Beaman's name, but not those of her thug oppressors?

Case in point:

We know the name of Elian Gonzalez.

We know the name of "fisherman" Donato Dalrymple.

Quick--who's the guy in the goggles?



One purpose of the press is to act as a watchdog over oppressive government, yet time and again I read stories where the agents committing abuses remain anonymous. By not identifying who they are as individuals, they face no personal consequences. They can continue abusing sovereign citizens with impunity.

If some Naziwannabe on the public dole is telling citizens they have no Constitutional rights, I want to know who that creep is. I want him out of any position of "authoritah".

Meanwhile, don't feel too sorry for new civil libertarian Cecelia Beaman, who is shocked, shocked that this could happen to her. As principal of Pacific Middle School, she presides over warrantless searches of charges she suspects of wrongdoing as a matter of policy.

Funny thing about Highline Public Schools' "SEARCH AND SEIZURE (BOARD POLICY 3231-3232)". They admit at the outset: "All students possess the constitutional right to be secure in their persons, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures." But instead of obtaining a warrant based on "probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized," the bar at HPS is lowered to mere "reasonable cause for school authorities to believe that the possession constitutes a crime or rule violation."

So, Cecelia, before you scream too loudly about your rights, maybe you could tell us how many lockers you've ordered searched without a warrant--and what you would do, under the doctrine of "zero tolerance," to some hapless student caught in a situation similar to yours.

---------------------------------

[I found out about the TSA story via FreedomSight, via End the War on Freedom, via What Really Happened.]

The Magic Amulet

Police were told Denny drove the woman to San Diego International Airport, where he flashed his fake badge to get through security. [More]

See, have the amulet and you have the power to cloud men's minds--although in the case of TSA, the clouds are already pretty dark and fluffy.

I'll bet if you had that amulet you could walk around with a gun and no one would give you a second look. Do the same without it, and you may stampede the herd.

Mass conditioned reflexes to symbols of authority--why, that's a pretty handy thing for tyrants to have...and it works like magic!

[Via Harvey]

Confessions of an Ex-TSA Agent.

Dear America, I Saw You Naked. And yes, we were laughing. [More]

And it's all theater.

But did any of us not already know that?

[Via Michael G]

We're the Only Ones Escorted Enough

According to documents charging Lecheton "Omar" Settles, 30, of Herndon, Va., with first-degree rape, he threatened to use his position as a law-enforcement officer and his government-issued firearm to commit the rape. [More]

Hey, threatening, detaining, groping, probing, acting like they own you and can do with you what they will--anybody see anything that's not in the TSA Mission Statement...?