TSA Strikes again
By estherlou
@estherlou (5015)
United States
December 5, 2011 2:58pm CST
A teenager, carrying a purse with a replica of an old western gun on the outside as design, was detained by the TSA at Norfolk International Airport. The agents told the pregnant teenager that she was in violation...that it was a federal offense. The teen said 'It's a purse...how is that a federal offense?' "After TSA agents figured out the gun was a fake, Gibbs said, they told her to check the bag or turn it over. By the time security wrapped up the inspection, the pregnant teen missed her flight, and Southwest Airlines sent her to Orlando instead. The changed itinerary created no small amount of anxiety for Gibbs' mother, who was already waiting for her to arrive at the Jacksonville airport." These stories of abuse get crazier and crazier. Just the other day an 84 year old woman in a wheelchair carrying her walker was strip searched. Really? You'd think these TSA agents would be screened for common sense before they are hired. I'm so glad I will not be flying again.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/florida-teen-detained-tsa-design-her-purse-221835034.html
http://www.mail.com/video/topvideos/889566-84-year-old-woman-tsa-strip-searched.html
2 people like this
5 responses
@GardenGerty (157665)
• United States
5 Dec 11
I guess I would have just checked my purse, and muttered to myself about crazy agents. Of course with all the fees for checked luggage, she probably did not have the money to do so. Maybe the joke about not allowing the elderly lady on a flight with yarn and knitting needles was not so much of a joke. It was from pre 911, so there were not so many restrictions, but the punch line was "They were afraid she would knit an Afghan". It seems this is where the TSA has their brains. What kind of harm can an 84 yr. old woman do with a wheel chair and walker? Common sense is totally uncommon.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
17 Mar 12
I read something today about those agents being trained that if someone yawns that is supposed to make them suspects. That is just nuts, because yawning is just about people not getting enough oxygen, and/or enough sleep. I used to love to fly, but am no longer interested in doing so if we cannot take our own bottled water into the waiting area and we have to take our shoes off and walk on the dirty floor and get felt up and all that. Seriously, I don't want some stranger touching me for no good reason either. I haven't flown at all this year and do not plan to until they get that fixed.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
5 Dec 11
It's outrageous what they do to people who have to fly. I won't fly anymore except for emergencies, like when my mom only had a day to live. I was grateful for flying then and lucked out--no bad screening experience.
It's ridiculous who they pick out to torture. But with more and more Americans turning on our country...you'd think, though, that an 84 year old lady would be exempt.
No wonder the airlines are in big financial trouble.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
6 Dec 11
I agree. I used to fly before all this started. My husband still wants to take me to Europe next time he goes. I didn't go last time, and I don't even have a passport. But I may get one because I would like to go to Canada sometime maybe, if I get the chance. I've seen very little of it. But I want to go by car. I really don't want to go anywhere I can't drive. And TSA is the main reason. Other reasons include the delays that have kept people confined in planes on the ground for hours with no rest rooms, and very crowded conditions that pack people in like sardines with no room to really stretch one's legs. I'm not young anymore, and I don't want to fly unless I absolutely must.
