Our trip to NYC in April was the first time we had flown since 9-9-01, when we returned from the PNW back to the PRK, landing in Oakland. All bags that are checked or carried MUST be UNLOCKED! I do not like the idea but was not asked my opinion when they dreamed that up.
I have not flown with a firearm for some time. When I used to travel for the fed sector I carried and had no problems. One time I called UAL and asked there policy about traveling armed and they said ,"No problem, just tell your name to the counter clerk and your name will be on file".
Sure enough when I arrived and my turn came in line, I told the clerk my name and she looked on the screen and her eyebrows went way up. She processed my ticket and told me an escort would see me to the plane. A few minutes passed and a young male employee introduced himself as my escort, and we proceded to the aircraft. I was boarded first and introduced to the entire crew. The pilot and co-pilot were particularly pleased that I was aboard. In fact the senior flight attendent intoduced me as "Our Air Marshall for the flight". I enjoy a gag as much as anyone but they were dead serious. I was upgraded to a first class seat and plied with everything but alcoholic drinks. The flight was uneventful and I vowed to try to be as incognito as possible on the return trip.
Another time I was sent to D.C. on TDY for my agency. I know that in D.C. it is not PC to be armed but I know how rough the place is from previous visits. I carried a .380 that was on my current CCW. My wife and 14 year old son joined me in a couple of days since it was our wedding anniversary that weekend.
After an uneventful week, other than my son seeing a limo stop and someone inside bought drugs from a guy hovering in a doorway. When we were ready to return to SFO I dropped my wife and son off at the curb with instructions that my bag not be checked aboard my flight, since I would have to do the firearm declaration routine. I ended up behind a truck and before I realized it I missed the turn for the parking area. After crossing over to Alexandria and making my way back I was later than I thought. I dropped off the car and made it to the entrance where the family was waiting.
When we walked inside the terminal I asked where my bags were and my wife pointed to a baggage check spot. The location was beyond the security check with the metal detectors and x-ray machines. She had passed the suitcase with my pistol in it, through the x-ray machine and then taken it to the locker and returned outside. I asked which of the belts she had used and was the security guy the same one that had allegedly passed my bag through. After I was sure I had it right I jotted down the time and location and physical ID of the security inspector responsible. I observed him for about 6 or 8 minutes and noticed that he was very bored and only perked up when an attractive female came through the station. He would spend time ogling the females that walked through the portal, instead of observing the monitor with the visual of the contents of the cases.
My family was on an earlier flight and their plane took off on time. We got caught in a thunder storm with hail even and sat in a stuffy aircraft for nearly two hours before taking off. Due to this diversion I missed my connection in St. Louis and barely made another flight to SFO. Since we lived 85 miles from SFO it made it interesting getting home.
When I returned to work I contacted the FAA in D.C. and reported my findings and told them that an unseeing, seemingly uncaring employee for the security company hired by the National Airport, was paying no attention and allowed a firearm to pass un-noticed through his position. The FAA guy took all the particulars and sounded very upset that it could happen in our nation's capitol. I can only presume the security guy lost his job and our the airline may have been fined, but knowing DC pretty well the guy was probably promoted to chief inspector, with the help of a well known 5 letter organization.
Personally, these days I try not to fly, except for the trip to NYC to see our now 25 year old son. If I had my way I would have a range at the airport, ask for volunteers that meet some specific criteria and have them fire about 25 shots at the range while their backgrounds are being checked and cleared.
