# What do you do if you find a gun in a plane's bathroom?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 2, 2017, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711 "2017-05-02T12:42:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/41 "2017-05-03T00:02:08Z")

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> [@SamuelA](#):
>
> How about you flush the ammo and take the firing pin or some other crucial part. If you get caught later with the complete set of parts to a firearm on you, it’s going to be hard to explain. A pistol worth a few hundred bucks is not worth risking your freedom over, but taking just key components means that you don’t have a functional weapon on you, and neither does whoever it belonged to. Heh, google how to disassemble that model on the in-flight internet.

Since i dont know what chemicals are in the toilet, nor where it flushes to, i’d be a bit reluctant to flush live bullets to an unknown destination, be my luck they would cook up and go poking little holes in the plane or something.

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**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/42 "2017-05-03T01:53:18Z")

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> [@Weisshund](#):
>
> Since i dont know what chemicals are in the toilet, nor where it flushes to, i’d be a bit reluctant to flush live bullets to an unknown destination, be my luck they would cook up and go poking little holes in the plane or something.

They won’t. It’s a holding tank. Even if they went off, bullets outside a gun won’t even puncture the tank.

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**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/43 "2017-05-03T02:19:56Z")

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> [@Scumpup](#):
>
> Although I do know how to handle guns safely, I’m not touching it because I don’t want my fingerprints on it. We know, after the fact, that this particular gun belonged to a somewhat absent minded sky marshal. There are other possibilities and I don’t want to be tied to the gun in any way should the situation be more sinister. I’d use the assistance light and stand outside the toilet, blocking the door until some cabin crew arrive. Then, I’d give the briefest possible version of “I just walked into the restroom and found a gun on the floor/sink/whatever and it is still there” that would make me understood.

> [@Orwell](#):
>
> But I’m not touching it, for fear of being implicated in something, or worse, being shot by an air marshall who sees me with it.

> [@Velocity](#):
>
> To answer the OP - alert a flight attendant, and _don’t get fingerprints on the gun_. Maybe TSA will claim you brought it aboard.

Then they’re admitting they failed during your screening. (not that that would be the [first](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/01/tsa-fails-95-percent-tests-homeland-security_n_7485558.html) [time](http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/investigation-breaches-us-airports-allowed-weapons-through-n367851).)

> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Using gloves or some material to not leave fingerprints, disassemble gun and stuff down toilet.

> [@TreacherousCretin](#):
>
> I’m used to handling guns, but wouldn’t touch anything in the room except for the call button. Then I’d stand outside the room, door closed tightly behind me, and wait for the attendant to arrive, as calmly as possible. Because I just know my eyes would be bugging out, and it would be less alarming for me to tell her (?) that there was a gun on the other side of the closed door behind me.

> [@SamuelA](#):
>
> I’m half tempted to say “clear it and flush the ammo down the toilet”. That way, whatever happens, nobody is getting shot today by that gun. Problem is, that puts your prints and DNA on the weapon, and you really want to stay out of this. When the police investigation starts the moment you touch down, you’re going to be questioned. At the start of that investigation, the police have exactly 1 suspect - you. As stupid as it sounds - if it was your gun, why would you have told anyone? - plenty of people have ended up going to prison for less.

> [@jz78817](#):
>
> I’d do the same as you. I _do_ know how to handle guns, but I’m not putting my hands on one I find in a place it shouldn’t be.

If you’re walking thru the park & find a dead body, do you not call the PD for fear that they’ll think you’re the murderer?  
You’re legitimately on the plane (meaning you have purchased a ticket in your name, you’re not a stowaway.) You find something illegal & turn it over to what you believe is an appropriate ‘authority’ (flight attendant) &/or render it unuseable & safe. Why would the feds arrest you?  
Given that air marshals are on \< 1% of domestic flights, my first thought would be toward hijacking, possibly left by one person to be picked up by another. Hmmm, lesse, who would have access to areas of the plane the general public does not, like the food bins that weren’t screened the same way as people are? I’d take it & it wouldn’t leave my possession until we’re on the ground. I’m not trusting anyone to turn it over to, except maybe the pilot. If the plane had wifi, I’d possibly try to connect & contact PD in the destination city to have them meet the plane at the gate/on the tarmac.

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**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/44 "2017-05-03T02:22:45Z")

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> [@Weisshund](#):
>
> Since i dont know what chemicals are in the toilet, nor where it flushes to, i’d be a bit reluctant to flush live bullets to an unknown destination, be my luck they would cook up and go poking little holes in the plane or something.

So, no “blue fireworks show” at locai playgrounds then…?

“Jesus, Bobby, you’re covered in blue dye! What did you do? Rob a bank…?”

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**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/45 "2017-05-03T02:39:19Z")

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Back away slowly and find the attendant.

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**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/46 "2017-05-03T03:55:52Z")

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> [@Weisshund](#):
>
> 1. Safely unload gun
> 2. Since most likely semi auto, quickly break down gun
> 3. disperse gun parts in various pockets and other areas
> 4. Quietly return to seat, enjoy flight.
> 5. Unboard, leave airport, go home
> 6. Profit!! Free gun!
> 7. Flight Marshall gets new job as Walmart door greeter, because he/she has to explain where their firearm is.
> 
> This is correct answer yes?

So what happens when the air marshall realizes that the gun is missing and has everyone on board the plane strip searched?

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**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/47 "2017-05-03T04:07:29Z")

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Something that’s been bothering me a bit… A firearm is NOT a light weight. Well, OK, a _servicable_ law-enforcement duty firearm is not a light weight. I can feel where my weapon is, when carrying, intuitively. I cannot imagine not realizing it was on my person. Yes, I know it _does_ happen occasionally, but most such stories I hear of are concealed carry pieces, which are intentionally as light weight as practical. Even then… I wonder. How \*does \*one lose a couple pounds of firearm off their body and not notice?

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**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/48 "2017-05-03T05:21:21Z")

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> [@Tranquilis](#):
>
> Something that’s been bothering me a bit… A firearm is NOT a light weight. Well, OK, a _servicable_ law-enforcement duty firearm is not a light weight. I can feel where my weapon is, when carrying, intuitively. I cannot imagine not realizing it was on my person. Yes, I know it _does_ happen occasionally, but most such stories I hear of are concealed carry pieces, which are intentionally as light weight as practical. Even then… I wonder. How \*does \*one lose a couple pounds of firearm off their body and not notice?

I’m guessing air marshall’s are really fat and really, really bored. Given the number of passenger flights vs the number of hijackings, the odds of an air marshall ever seeing even a single terrorist attack must be basically zero. Regular beat cops see a lot more action, even if most of it doesn’t involve them actually using their gun.

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**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/49 "2017-05-03T12:33:42Z")

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> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> Given that air marshals are on \< 1% of domestic flights, my first thought would be toward hijacking, possibly left by one person to be picked up by another. Hmmm, lesse, who would have access to areas of the plane the general public does not, like the food bins that weren’t screened the same way as people are? I’d take it & it wouldn’t leave my possession until we’re on the ground. I’m not trusting anyone to turn it over to, except maybe the pilot. If the plane had wifi, I’d possibly try to connect & contact PD in the destination city to have them meet the plane at the gate/on the tarmac.

This was my first thought, as well. I don’t think I would think of an air marshal, I would think of a terrorist or hijacker. And I would be inclined to put the pistol in my pocket or small of my back and take it with me to my seat for self-defense. But the little guy on my other shoulder would be saying “tell the flight attendant”. And I would stand in the lav letting the two little guys on my shoulders argue it out, not knowing what to do.

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**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/50 "2017-05-03T12:43:04Z")

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> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> Given that air marshals are on \< 1% of domestic flights, my first thought would be toward hijacking, possibly left by one person to be picked up by another. Hmmm, lesse, who would have access to areas of the plane the general public does not, like the food bins that weren’t screened the same way as people are? I’d take it & it wouldn’t leave my possession until we’re on the ground. I’m not trusting anyone to turn it over to, except maybe the pilot. If the plane had wifi, I’d possibly try to connect & contact PD in the destination city to have them meet the plane at the gate/on the tarmac.

? This doesn’t make any sense - armed hijackers are on a lot fewer flights than air marshals. So your first thought _should_ be air marshal, not hijacker.

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**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/51 "2017-05-03T12:58:57Z")

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> [@Velocity](#):
>
> To answer the OP - alert a flight attendant, and _don’t get fingerprints on the gun_. Maybe TSA will claim you brought it aboard.

That was my first thought. “Hell no, I’m not touching that.”

I grew up around firearms and used them a lot (gun range). But I’m not putting my fingerprints on a random firearm found somewhere. Bad enough one of my hairs will probably somehow get caught on the thing. (Pieces of my hair wind up _everywhere_; you’d think I should be bald from all the shedding.)

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**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/52 "2017-05-03T15:14:47Z")

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> [@Count\_Blucher](#):
>
> (I was influenced by movies with Wesley Snipes, Bruce Willis, and Liam Neeson at a formative age.)

Maybe I watch too many of the same movies, but my first thought doesn’t run to absent-minded air marshal, but gun planted for terroristic purposes. Lavatory service guy leaves gun(s) for terrorists/hijackers on plane for use in flight. Before this story, I would have thought that someone trained to handle and carry a weapon on a plane would be a bit less careless, but obviously I was wrong there.

So in my scenario, what do I do? Disable gun, so terrorist plan is foiled, or keep gun to use when the shit goes down? Hmm…which movie would I rather see? Die Hard On A Plane, or North By Northwest Orient?

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**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/53 "2017-05-03T15:41:04Z")

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It just seems to me that air marshals are quite well trained and would never leave a gun away from their person.

It also seems that the toilet wouldn’t swallow a gun so that option would be out.

Best bet to notify the flight attendant. If this is an organized threat, you have to wonder if the other lavatories had guns planted that already got picked up. That plane needs to land ASAP.

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**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/54 "2017-05-03T15:48:31Z")

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> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> It just seems to me that air marshals are quite well trained and would never leave a gun away from their person.

[Are they?](http://nypost.com/2014/05/04/air-marshal-we-lack-fitness-training-weapons-to-stop-terrorists/)

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**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/55 "2017-05-03T15:58:53Z")

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Being of a certain generation, the title ‘air marshal’ reminds me of [this guy](http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1965/06/19/page/1/article/air-marshal-ky-named-viet-premier). (See header in right-hand column.)

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**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/56 "2017-05-03T16:03:55Z")

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> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Hmm…which movie would I rather see? Die Hard On A Plane, or North By Northwest Orient?

Northwest Orient, huh? Speaking of being of a certain generation…

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**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/57 "2017-05-03T16:25:03Z")

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> [@muldoonthief](#):
>
> ? This doesn’t make any sense - armed hijackers are on a lot fewer flights than air marshals. So your first thought _should_ be air marshal, not hijacker.

I’ve heard of more stories of hijackings/airplane violence than I have of absent minded air marshals.  
I’m not the only one who would think that way, either:

> [@Orwell](#):
>
> This was my first thought, as well. I don’t think I would think of an air marshal, I would think of a terrorist or hijacker. And I would be inclined to put the pistol in my pocket or small of my back and take it with me to my seat for self-defense.

> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Maybe I watch too many of the same movies, but my first thought doesn’t run to absent-minded air marshal, but gun planted for terroristic purposes.

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**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/58 "2017-05-03T16:37:16Z")

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> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> I’ve heard of more stories of hijackings/airplane violence than I have of absent minded air marshals.  
> I’m not the only one who would think that way, either:

Far be it from me to argue with a superhero, but how do you see events playing out for you after you take possession of the pistol if  
[ul]  
[li]it does turn out to belong to a sky marshal?[/li][li]it does turn out to belong to a a hijacker/terrorist?[/li][li]it belongs to a hijacker/terrorist who is part of a group of same?[/li][li]it belongs to an LEO who was travelling armed?[/li][/ul]  
I’m about as pro-gun as they come, but if any part of events involves you engaging in a firefight inside the plane, I’d prefer you just give the gun to the nice cabin attendant. Sky marshals, as per the article I linked upthread, are arguably ill-trained for the job. You are not even as qualified as they are, most likely.

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**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/59 "2017-05-03T16:50:42Z")

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> [@TreacherousCretin](#):
>
> I’m used to handling guns, but wouldn’t touch anything in the room except for the call button. Then I’d stand outside the room, door closed tightly behind me, and wait for the attendant to arrive, as calmly as possible. Because I just know my eyes would be bugging out, and it would be less alarming for me to tell her (?) that there was a gun on the other side of the closed door behind me…

> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> …If you’re walking thru the park & find a dead body, do you not call the PD for fear that they’ll think you’re the murderer?

Of course you call the cops. Obviously.

> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> …You’re legitimately on the plane (meaning you have purchased a ticket in your name, you’re not a stowaway.) You find something illegal & turn it over to what you believe is an appropriate ‘authority’ (flight attendant) &/or render it unuseable & safe. Why would the feds arrest you?..

You’re missing my point. Flight Attendant responds to the Call Button and finds either

1. obviously agitated person, inside the lav with door ajar, saying there’s a gun in there with him (which might sound like “I have a gun in here with me”)  
or
2. obviously agitated person, standing outside the closed lav door, saying there’s a gun on the other side of that door.

I think the second option would be more conducive to clear headed reactions. As well as a more pleasant travel experience.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-gun-in-a-planes-bathroom/785711/60 "2017-05-03T16:59:22Z")

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> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> I’ve heard of more stories of hijackings/airplane violence than I have of absent minded air marshals…

I would think that this is because most air marshals have enough sense to not leave their weapons in the bathroom.

I sure hope that marshal gets disciplined to hell and back for being such an idiot.

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