Man pulls out unloaded gun, causes panic at LAX

[onehandle]

Source: AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) - An arriving passenger has been arrested on suspicion of brandishing a weapon in the baggage claim area of Los Angeles International Airport's Terminal 3, causing momentary panic before authorities determined his handgun was unloaded.

Terminal 3 was the site of a deadly gun attack last week that left a Transportation Security Administration officer dead and three others wounded.

Airport police Sgt. Karla Ortiz said the man either took out the gun or a gun carrying case around 9 p.m. Friday. At least one witness who saw the act notified authorities and the bomb squad was called in to search his bag.

The man had declared his weapon and cleared security before getting on his flight to LAX. Ortiz said his offense was showing off a weapon in a public area.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20131109_ap_5c8ff1842b6b4634875c8559a6d42f55.html

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Guns are handy.

[Duckhunter935]

1. gun or gun case?

Last edited Sat Nov 9, 2013, 10:27 AM - Edit history (1)

They do not know? I would like to see some good reporting on what actually happened.

[jberryhill]

2. "either took out the gun or a gun carrying case"

Since he was allowed to board, it seems as if he was checking a declared weapon.

[DallasNE]

3. Not A Very Clear Report

Was this a gun in a gun case as a checked item similar to golf clubs or did this person open up a bag and remove this item in the baggage claim area. To me it would seem dumb to allow a gun case to be a separate item of luggage just because of what happened here so where did this passenger depart from that allows such things. Common sense was in short supply here, declared or not.

[petronius]

6. If it's a long gun though, it pretty much has to be a separate checked item - like

skis, golf clubs, surfboards, and other big oddly-shaped things. My WAG is that he opened the actual case to see if his property was intact (understandable, but extremely unwise) and somebody witnessed that act...

[DallasNE]

8. You Could Be Right

But you could tell by the weight of the case whether a baggage handler has removed the gun. Nobody opens their luggage in the pickup area for damage so I don't understand what this person could have been thinking.

[petronius]

12. The LA Times story has a slightly different description

Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad officers searched the man’s luggage before clearing the scene. The man was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a weapon but was later released for not meeting the criteria of the brandishing charge, Ortiz said. He was cleared to carry the handgun.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-man-with-unloaded-handgun-creates-panic-at-lax-20131109,0,7453281.story

Now I'm wondering if he's law enforcement of some kind, or someone else with a permit to carry, and was intending to load and transfer it to a holster - stupid move to do it in public view, certainly. Hope there's some follow up on this...

[DallasNE]

18. Thanks, But This Makes The Matter Even Worst

It sounds like the guy opened up his suitcase and took out his gun. Even if this was legal it points out the severe shortcomings when laws to govern America are further watered down by these nut jobs.

[MyNameGoesHere]

4. The responsible gun owner is laughing his ass off

as we split hairs about whether it was a gun or a gun case containing a gun.
I have a different take. As it is evident now that 90% of gun owners are mentally ill (rw talking point du jour) , why take a chance? Lock em up in a mental ward, medicate them and determine the degree of threat to society or themselves they are.

[alp227]

5. "90% of gun owners are mentally ill"

Really? And "Lock em up in a mental ward, medicate them and determine the degree of threat to society or themselves they are."

What happened to due process?

[MyNameGoesHere]

15. They would refuse due process

as an infringement of one of their 3 rights. There is precedent on forcing people to be sent to an institution for evaluation. So it is legal.

[elleng]

7. 'rw talking point?'

You really think so??? or really wholly

[Incitatus]

13. There are a lot more sane and liberal gun owners than you think. nt

[Turbineguy]

20. That's what

the 10% is for.

[Novel style]

9. wow

Crazy.

[jakeXT]

10. Looks like flares and gun powder are not allowed

http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/firearms-and-ammunition

[Aristus]

11. This should be everyone's take-away:

Leave your fucking home at HOME!

[libdem4life]

14. So I have to ask, why would Anyone feel they need a gun...loaded or unloaded...on an airline flight

unless they are an Air Marshall? Put differently, why would they be cleared to have a gun...unloaded for what purpose, loaded...same question. It is a bit nutty and as a passenger, I'd be a bit nervous.

[petronius]

16. He didn't have the gun with him on the flight - it sounds like he took

it out of his checked baggage at the baggage claim after arriving. It's hard to tell, but the 'cleared' comment sounds like he has some form of permission to carry in public (but not on a flight)...

[libdem4life]

17. Ah, after arriving...makes more sense.

[jpak]

19. Why would anyone be scared of a Personal Safety Device?

They are the Good Things....

not