TSA Insanity, Troops with Automatic Weapons Searched for Nail Clippers

[proud2BlibKansan]

As the Chalk Leader for my flight home from Afghanistan, I witnessed the following:

When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards.

Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That’s where the stupid started.

First, everyone was forced to get off the plane-even though the plane wasn’t refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to
a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.

It’s probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren’t loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.

more . . . http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/12/07/tsa-insanity-troops-with-automatic-weapons-searched-for-nail-clippers/

[slackmaster]

1. Kabuki Theater security - They had no ammunition but probably carried bayonets

:nuke:

[Robb]

2. Ah, the Sgt. Mad Dog Tracy email.

;)

Edited to add:

http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/12/tsa-response-to-claim-that-nail.html
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/t/TSA-Military-Nail-Clipper.htm

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. I've seen TSA take nail clippers

More than once.

[wtmusic]

7. Apparently your OP has been debunked. nt

[redirish28]

3. OMG THAT IS EFFIN INSANE!!!! These poor guys and gals.

[wtmusic]

4. Sounds like BS to me.

Nail clippers have been OK for almost a decade.

"Lastly, nail clippers. I can't even count the number of times I have heard or seen this... Totally not true. Way back when, 2001, pre-TSA, post 9-11, nail clippers were prohibited, probably an immediate reaction to the events of that day. However, when we came along, we changed the list, allowed nail clippers, but still get accused of being pro-long finger nail. Totally not true.
Trim those nails, in flight if you want, just be sure the passenger sitting next to you doesn't mind a flying hang nail.... Oh yeah, no blades on nail clippers either. Nail files on the other hand are OK."

http://blog.tsa.gov/2009/05/tsa-urban-legends-nail-clippers.html

Not that anything your read on the internet isn't true.

[ddeclue]

6. so were they fully automatic nail clippers or merely semi auto?

:rofl:

[Spider Jerusalem]

8. This is utter bullshit, sorry.

Written by someone who's ignorant of the military or expects that his audience are. Soldiers in transit don't carry weapons on commercial or chartered civilian aircraft. They're transported separately or assigned in-country after arrival from QM stores.

[NutmegYankee]

9. FALSE

http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/12/updated-tsa-response-to-claim-that-nail.html

On December 1, we responded to a story that had been and is still making its way onto a number of blogs and e-mail chains about the TSA screening of a military charter arriving at Indianapolis International Airport from Afghanistan. The unattributed story claims TSA confiscated multi-tools and nail clippers, while all on board were allowed to carry military issued firearms.

After responding, some folks, including the blog that posted the original story, stood by their claims. Well, since the facility is run by the National Guard, we went to them and received the following quote.

“TSA does not have personnel or conduct any screening in the facility where military charters are processed at Indianapolis International Airport.”

Shawn D. Gardner
Director of Public Affairs
Indiana National Guard

Please feel free to forward this to anybody who may have been misled by the original story.

Thanks,

Blogger Bob
TSA Blog Team

Sorry, we all hate the TSA, but these types of stories almost always turn out false.