The TSA Proves its Own Irrelevance

by email from Bruce Schneier
Crypto-Gram: January 15, 2012

Have you wondered what $1.2 billion in airport security gets you? The TSA has compiled its own "Top 10 Good Catches of 2011":

10) Snakes, turtles, and birds were found at Miami (MIA) and Los
Angeles (LAX). I'm just happy there weren't any lions, tigers,
and bears...

[...]

3) Over 1,200 firearms were discovered at TSA checkpoints across
the nation in 2011. Many guns are found loaded with rounds in the
chamber. Most passengers simply state they forgot they had a gun in
their bag.

2) A loaded .380 pistol was found strapped to passenger's ankle
with the body scanner at Detroit (DTW). You guessed it, he forgot
it was there...

1) Small chunks of C4 explosives were found in passenger's
checked luggage in Yuma (YUM). Believe it or not, he was bringing it
home to show his family.

That's right; not a single terrorist on the list. Mostly forgetful, and entirely innocent, people. Note that they fail to point out that the firearms and knives would have been just as easily caught by pre-9/11 screening procedures. And that the C4 -- their #1 "good catch" -- was on the return flight; they missed it the first time. So only 1 for 2 on that one.

And the TSA decided not to mention its stupidest confiscations:

TSA confiscates a butter knife from an airline pilot. TSA
confiscates a teenage girl's purse with an embroidered handgun
design. TSA confiscates a 4-inch plastic rifle from a GI Joe action
doll on the grounds that it's a "replica weapon." TSA confiscates
a liquid-filled baby rattle from airline pilot's infant daughter.
TSA confiscates a plastic "Star Wars" lightsaber from a toddler.


The TSA's Top 10 Good Catches of 2011:
The TSA Blog: TSA Top 10 Good Catches of 2011

The TSA missed the C4 the first time.
Man had C-4 in bag at airport, court documents state (+AFFIDAVIT) | atwater, documents, state - Odessa American Online

TSA stupid confiscations:
2012 - Salon.com
_common/singleton/
or What do cupcakes and lightsabers have in common? - Salon.com

__________________
"Patriotism means being loyal to your country all the time and to its government when it deserves it."-- Mark Twain

"Inter arma silent Musae"--when the weapons speak, the muses fall silent.

An't nanum hearm deth, doth hwaet ye willath.

It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished
unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets. -Voltaire

Economic Left/Right: -3.88
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