Huffington Post
U.S. airport security agents discovered a record 67 firearms in
luggage passengers intended to carry on to airplanes during one week in
September, according to the Transportation Security Administration
(TSA).
Of the 67 firearms found during the week ended Sept. 17, 56 were
loaded and 26 had a round in the chamber, the TSA reported. The tally
set a new weekly record. The prior record was 65 firearms found during a
week in May 2013, TSA said.
For the most recent week, ending Sept. 24, TSA said it found 64
firearms in carry-on bags at airports. Of those, 55 were loaded and 22
had a round chambered, TSA said.
In July, new TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger told a congressional
panel that his top priority would be to close security gaps at airport
checkpoints.
Lawmakers opened a U.S. House of Representatives hearing after a
Department of Homeland Security report that found TSA airport screeners
did not detect banned weapons in 67 of 70 tests at dozens of airport
checkpoints.
Maybe our resident math whiz can tell us what the estimate would be based on that little 67 out of 70 stat. And I know he'll follow that with the observation that in spite of all those guns on planes there has been no bad result, presumably showing that guns on planes is a good thing. Well, needless to say, I and many others don't agree.
I've never noticed anyone here particularly adept with numbers. I have never really been challenged with anything worth calculating. I don't think I would worry too much about the 67/70 failed tests. These tests are efforts by top law enforcement aiming to find new breaches and plugging known security gaps and failures more effectively. These test are not comparable to the typical frousled traveller unable to recall that they still have their gun with them. I mean, we have to believe that at least some or most of these people honestly forgot they were carrying, right? (Hee-hee-hee!) If the TSA only caught 3/70 guns smuggled on to aircraft, that would mean the actual number of guns found would have to be multiplied by 23.333. Statistics are available for the calendar year 2014 thanks to this article in USA Today last January.
ReplyDeleteThe total number of guns found in security areas getting ready to be boarded on to airplanes in 2014 was 2,212 firearms, most of them loaded. If we took the test failure rate as a useful statistic, then there could have been as many as 51,613 guns actually smuggled aboard aircraft.
Even if we had good statistics, which is no more possible than guessing the exact amount of drugs smuggled in the U.S. from south of our border, it would be an incredibly complex calculation. To even approximate a good number, the first thing we would have to do is get a reliable list of the number of guns found in the top twenty or so airports and compare that count with the total number of departures.
Let's just see which airports top the list in the first five places.
Dallas/Fort Worth International
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Denver International Airport
In all fairness, Texas is a humongous state. But it does sort of resemble a list of the five most populated cities in red states.
I'm okay with a slap on the wrist at this point in time. But can we move into a brighter future? How about very steep fines for second offense. A travel ban or prison for a third offense? Isn't it about time to quit pussyfooting around with something this serious?
MikeB: "Maybe our resident math whiz can tell us what the estimate would be based on that little 67 out of 70 stat."
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can just go read what I said last time, since you obviously remember that we at least talked about this before with this snide comment:
MikeB: “And I know he'll follow that with the observation that in spite of all those guns on planes there has been no bad result, presumably showing that guns on planes is a good thing.”
Of course, if you do go back and read the prior discussion, you will remember that I do not believe that “all those guns” have made it onto plane as you do. It is you who likes to conflate CCW holders with terrorist, and believe there is no difference between forgetting a gun and deliberately sneaking a gun onto a plane- not me. I merely pointed out how the numbers mean you must believe that 40,000 guns get snuck onto plane each year- yet none have resulted in an in-flight incident. I thought that might make you back down on your ridiculous position, but apparently not.
http://mikeb302000.blogspot.com/2015/06/tsa-chief-out-after-agents-fail-95.html
Not one incident - YET. It's coming.
DeleteOnly the most extreme gun nuts think guns should be allowed on planes.
I never said guns should be allowed as a carry on. Whom are you arguing with? Guns are not allowed on planes, and CCW holders are not sneaking them onto planes, other than one known incident. And that was not a "sneak" but a mistake, because the woman brought it to the authorities attention after the flight was over. But keep believing that there are 40,000 - 50,000 loaded guns on planes per year. There is really no point in keeping up the the security charade if that's true. Hell, that's quite a strong indictment against gun control in general. If 95% of guns make it passed screening checkpoints with metal detectors and pat downs, what hope do you ever have of controlling "gun flow"?
DeleteOnly the most extreme gun nuts think guns should be allowed on planes.
DeleteWrong. I think they should, and I, of course am not a "gun nut," much less an "extreme gun nut," let alone "the most extreme gun nut." Only a lying little coward would say I was.
With whom are you arguing, TS. It's in the article I posted that 95% gets through.
Delete"I never said guns should be allowed as a carry on. "
Are you sure about that? Of course I hesitate to question your memory, but weren't you on board with allowing permit holders to carry on planes and all the other gun-free zones.
I feel that if you are not going to allow guns in a certain place for security reasons, screening should be put in place and security should be provided for.
DeleteHow about answering my last question? The secure areas of airports are the ultimate pinnacle of gun control:
Delete1) No one is allowed to have a gun except for designated security personnel.
2) They check 100% of the people to see if they have a gun.
It is Bloomberg’s “Stop and Frisk” policy except for everyone (including the white people). And you are telling me you believe that will only work 5% of the time? Tell us again how your idea of “proper gun control” (which is nowhere near the level of banning all guns and searching everyone) is supposed to dramatically reduce deaths.
Right, the idiot gun loon numbers guy who thought 65% wasn't a majority HA HA HA HA
ReplyDelete