# The guy in front of me at airport security this morning had an AK47 in his carry on. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 20, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895 "2011-09-20T01:49:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/61 "2011-09-20T20:58:18Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > If you don’t want to have your fruit taken when you cross the border, then don’t take fruit with you when you cross the border. > > Sorry, seen too many of those commercials lately. (“If you don’t want to pay chequing fees, then don’t pay chequing fees.”) 🙂 > > Seriously, the US does not allow travellers to import agricultural products. [Cite](http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/arriving_travelers.xml). Which is kind of ironic, because a lot of agricultural products we buy in Canada either come from the US originally, or at least transited the US: all kinds of produce, for example, or what we cannot grow in season. But, rules are rules, I guess. If you can show that they did come from the USA originally, US Customs will let them through. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/62 "2011-09-20T22:02:04Z")
😃 ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/63 "2011-09-20T23:19:25Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Could you hide these things inside your body (if you know what I mean), like the ammo? And then lie and say it’s a metal bolt/plate in your lower back? Just hide the whole gun inside your body. > **[SwissMiniGun Arme Miniature Miniature Arms](https://www.swissminigun.ch/gallery_steel.html)** ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/64 "2011-09-21T00:01:34Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I have to ask what that “AK-47” is that looks like a giant bottle opener. Second down on the left, below the “M-16”, above the “AK-47” machine gun and to the left of the “AK-47” sub-machine gun. > [@runner pat](#): > > [FN P90](http://world.guns.ru/smg/be/fn-p90-e.html)Personal Defense Weapon. > > The latest in a long line of AK-47 clones. 😃 I’m guessing you didn’t own an [N64](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoldenEye_007_(1997_video_game)) in the mid-90s, **Cheesesteak**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/65 "2011-09-21T01:55:12Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > If you don’t want to have your fruit taken when you cross the border, then don’t take fruit with you when you cross the border. > > Sorry, seen too many of those commercials lately. (“If you don’t want to pay chequing fees, then don’t pay chequing fees.”) 🙂 You and your damned lawyer logic! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/66 "2011-09-21T03:02:33Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > Just hide the whole gun inside your body. > [SwissMiniGun Arme Miniature Miniature Arms](http://www.swissminigun.ch/gallery_steel.html) [**Harry Callahan**] I know what you’re thinking. “Did he fire six shots or only five?” Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a Swiss Mini Gun, the most pathetic handgun in the world, and would pop a zit clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel like laughing? Well, do ya, punk?"[/ **Harry Callahan**] ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/67 "2011-09-21T05:28:20Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > It may not have actually been an AK47. Airport security uses the same firearms identification charts as [journalists](http://kingshamus.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/official.jpg). Exactly. The typical TSA agent would identify any long gun as an AK-47 and a handgun as a Glock. The above average agent would determine that something between the two is an Uzi. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/68 "2011-09-21T06:18:46Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > You and your damned lawyer logic! 😃 Wait 'til you get my bill for that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/69 "2011-09-21T07:27:50Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Exactly. The typical TSA agent would identify any long gun as an AK-47 and a handgun as a Glock. The above average agent would determine that something between the two is an Uzi. That’s nothing. You should see the things NYPD will identify as a gun like a wallet. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/70 "2011-09-21T09:23:46Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > It may not have actually been an AK47. Airport security uses the same firearms identification charts as [journalists](http://kingshamus.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/official.jpg). Honestly, this doesn’t bother me a whole lot. So long as they can figure out “gun”, that’s sufficient. But when they can’t tell the difference between “explosive” and “shampoo”, that’s more bothersome ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/71 "2011-09-21T16:58:06Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > I flew with knitting needles about 3 years ago with no worries at all. Crochet hooks and knitting needles are officially ‘OK’ on that listy thing they give out. (Although it did give the TSA pause while she tried to figure out what they were). They were really puzzled by my tatting shuttle. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/72 "2011-09-22T18:50:02Z")
And in the news: [Another Guy takes a Gun (a Glock) on a plane in Canada - major goof-up by Air Canada](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=14282732#post14282732). ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/73 "2011-09-22T18:53:32Z")
Yeah, I read that. Rather disturbing. Poor guy tries to do things the right way, and gets arrested and held for three hours as his reward. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/74 "2011-09-22T18:55:16Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > \ > > But when they can’t tell the difference between “explosive” and “shampoo”, that’s more bothersome “This damned stuff just isn’t getting my hair clean.” :mad: > [@MLS](#): > > They were really puzzled by my tatting shuttle. And my weaving loom - hoo boy. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/75 "2011-09-24T14:50:08Z")
> [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](#): > > I’m guessing you didn’t own an [N64](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoldenEye_007_(1997_video_game)) in the mid-90s, **Cheesesteak**. 🙂 Or watched Star Gate SG-1. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/76 "2011-09-24T15:17:39Z")
I would just like to point out that at many airports the customers have take their to-be-checked luggage to security to be x-rayed before proceeding to regulary carry on security. Air Canada at terminal 2 @ LAX is set up this way. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/77 "2011-09-24T16:28:23Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > I would just like to point out that at many airports the customers have take their to-be-checked luggage to security to be x-rayed before proceeding to regulary carry on security. > Air Canada at terminal 2 @ LAX is set up this way. Interesting. I’ve only seen this at very small regional airports in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/78 "2011-09-24T17:17:18Z")
It all depends on the physical layout of the airport. LAX T2 is not the only place I have encountered this, just the one that came to mind. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/79 "2011-09-24T17:46:56Z")
Perhaps he was transporting evidence for the police/courts? I mean, they must get transported, right? So, maybe, this cop’s going to do something there anyway, he can take it, we’ll send the papers, etc. He could have, matter of factly mentioned to the counter person, his profession, the contents of his bag, that he has documentation for it. That person says, ‘sure thing’, forgetting about, or too busy to call, the xray staff, with a heads up…and bingo - ‘guy’ trying to board a plane with an AK47. Better yet, perhaps it was a test of security measures. A surprise drill, as it were. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895/80 "2011-09-24T18:08:02Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > Can I piggyback on this real quick? I have an antique metal elephant that weighs maybe 5 lbs and is about 10" tall that I want to bring to my sister, who I’m flying to visit next week. I was planning on just taking a carry-on for the trip. Are they going to let me bring this through, or throw a fit about a bludgeoning device or some crap? I would **think** that you’d be fine. I transported an omelette pan and a cast iron [corn grinder](http://store.gourmetsleuth.com/corn-masa-grinder-molino-P91.aspx) in my carry-on in the last 5 years. It did give the TSA agent pause, and I did get pulled aside while she consulted with another agent (who apparently explained to her that I’m not likely to hold a frying pan/grinder to anyone’s neck, and laptops might make neat bludgeoning devices too), but I did get them through just fine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guy-in-front-of-me-at-airport-security-this-morning-had-an-ak47-in-his-carry-on/596895.md?page=5)