July 06--Americans annoyed and embarrassed by security checks at our nation's airports have a lot more than terrorists to blame.
The vast majority of travelers are conscientious and take time before they fly to make sure, for example, that they've packed an appropriately sized tube of toothpaste, bottle of lotion or snow globe (look it up).
But more people are testing the patience of the Transportation Security Administration by showing up at the airport with firearms on their person or packed in their carry-on bags.
TSA screeners at airports across the nation have found about 900 total guns in passenger carry-on bags so far this year, according to an Associated Press report. That's up 30 percent from the same period last year.
Even more disturbing, 85 percent of the approximately 1,550 total firearms found at airports last year were loaded, with the most common type being a .38-caliber pistol.
One man was caught in Sacramento, Calif., with four loaded pistols, nearly 200 rounds of ammunition, two magazines and three knives. Another passenger, in Charlotte, N.C., had stashed a .45-caliber pistol loaded with seven rounds, including one in the chamber, inside the lining of a carry-on bag.
And in Allentown, Pa., a passenger initially lied to TSA officials about the true nature of a pistol disguised to look like a writing pen.
According to the TSA, "I forgot it was there" is the most common excuse offered by passengers.
While it's true that many people are used to legally carrying around concealed weapons on a day-to-day basis, we have a hard time believing simple forgetfulness is solely responsible for the growing number of firearm interceptions.
It seems more likely that some irresponsible gun enthusiasts are pushing the boundaries on purpose either to make a statement about their Second Amendment rights or to humiliate the TSA if screeners were somehow not to notice the prohibited items.
But they get caught, and a result, the TSA gains confidence in the necessity to use personal space-invading measures on all of us to find and confiscate contraband on just a few.
Retaining and demonstrating your Second Amendment rights shouldn't involve checking your brains at the door.
Copyright 2013 - Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Moscow, Idaho
