TSA explosive sniffing

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Folks, I've read recently that the TSA is going to start implementing the "Sniffing/Testing" for explosives residue at airports as part of their screening procedures as a result of capturing the "jockey-shorts bomber."

My question: Is the normal washing/bathing process adequate to remove such residue that might be present after shooting/cleaning a firearm the day prior to travel?

I don't mess with explosives so I'm not concerned from that aspect. I do shoot/clean and/or handle my weapons on a daily basis. Any possibility that might set off the sniffers?

I'm going to contact my Sister-in-Law who is a lawyer with the TSA and Homeland Security to see if she can direct me to a source to answer my questions.

But I thought I do a quick check with folks here first.

Ralph
 
I do shoot/clean and/or handle my weapons on a daily basis. Any possibility that might set off the sniffers?
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TSA talking head on Fox News yesterday said that gun shot residue would be detected, as well as nitroglycerin on the hands of a heart patient.

No idea how much of that is true.

As for cleaning up, I read that simple washing is usually enough to get rid of it, except for your shoes.
 
There was a thread on this a few days ago. The general consensus was that it won't show up. It was based on the experience of people who had traveled recently, and had handled a gun in a timeframe relatively close.
 
Attended a class where this question was brought up. This was a couple years back and the answer from some pretty bright people was that yes it would if the person was trying to conceal a "primary" source on themselves.

Exponentially the detection rate fell off though in regards to a secondary exposure where the material had been cleaned off. So each time you clean the area exposed to the agent you reduce the detection possibility by a factor...
 
NavyLT said:
Next thing you know, they will be banned from planes. Or have to travel in locked boxes such as traveling on AMTRAK.
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Oh that's just ridiculous, the TSA is much more reasonable than that. They will be gently escorted to a semiprivate room, relieved of their clothing, and be given a mildly invasive full body cavity search. The TSA is reasonable, you know.


I won't fly anymore. The additions of body scans did it for me.
 
When I used to fly a lot through Atlanta they would ALWAYS pull my bag after detecting explosives. It added about 5 mins to security...they'd pull it and wipe it down, then check the wipe. I always figured it was residue from shooting.
 
More waste of our funding. I have had range bags sniffed and wiped and passed right through. I know these bags had residue on them. Some equipment manufacturer is going to get rich though. They've actually been doing this for quite a few years now at some airports. I don't fly any more either. It still amazes me that people put up with this crap.
 
Drail said:
More waste of our funding. I have had range bags sniffed and wiped and passed right through. I know these bags had residue on them. Some equipment manufacturer is going to get rich though. They've actually been doing this for quite a few years now at some airports. I don't fly any more either. It still amazes me that people put up with this crap.
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I think we should protest this crap. The airlines are private property and the federal government has no right to regulate weapons on them in any fashion whatsoever.

If enough people would completely boycott the airline industry, we would force the government to either change it's position or accept a nation with third world transportation options. Unfortunately, people value their convenience more than their rights.
 
I agree totally but the Federal Govt. has this crazy idea about OWNING and CONTROLLING everything. The founding fathers would not believe what we have allowed to happen in this country. I too would be very interested to see the reaction if everyone did a boycott. People today DO value their convenience more than their rights but that's mainly because the majority are totally unaware that they HAVE rights. They just want to "feel safe". It happened to the Romans and it's happening to us.
 
Jake, I'm not sure how many airports have these things, but there are machines that blow air over you and analyze the air that it suctions on the other side, searching for trace elements that would indicate explosives.
 
There was a TV show a couple of years back called "Know your Ship". It was about an LA port operations. In one of the episodes the port had to be evacuated because explosive-sniffing dogs detected something in a bag. When the owned had been located it turned out that he packed his luggage in the same bag he was going to the range with. There was some residue from his firearms still detectable and that cause the fiasco. So it is very plausible that something can be detected on your hands if you went shooting a previous day.
 
i'm on some list. i get swabbed regularly. have gone from shooting at the farm directly to the airport. not had issues ever. about 2 dozen trips so far. ymmv
 
The Salt Lake City airport has a sniffer machine. A couple years ago, I checked a dirty firearm that had been shot the day before. I had to open it to show it was clear, and got residue all over my hands. I asked the attendant at the sniffer if it would show up and he said "I don't know, I guess we'll find out." It didn't, so I don't think we have anything to worry about.
 
Had my laptop swabbed last time I flew. Took about 20 extra seconds, and the TSO handed back my laptop and wished me a good flight.
 
When I heard this I wondered about reloading and the powder/primer contact residue. Though I haven't been on an airplane in ten years, it still made me wonder how much of a concern it would be.


Mark

The post from Officers Wife (#22) is good info. Wash up in the bleach and change shoes...good to go! thanks.
 
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I was in Louisville, KY airport today for two hours waiting for my brother to arrive. During that time, two sets of K-9 police in full tactical gear made passes through the lobby with their GSD's. Pretty impressive.
 
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