But Comments Point Out Confiscated Items Were Not Threats

Lots of kids put on costumes and went door-to-door trick-or-treating on Monday, but some of the surprises that arrived at airport security checkpoints were not received as cute or funny by TSA. In its official blog, the agency cites some examples of items passengers tried to bring through checkpoints.

Lisa Farbstein was the Guest Blogger. She's a TSA Spokesperson, and recalls, "Let’s see, there was the passenger in Boston who had a steak knife in his carry-on bag; the El Paso passenger with a 6-and-a-half-inch hunting knife in his carry-on bag; the LaGuardia Airport passenger who had eight rounds of 9 mm ammunition in his bag; the JFK Airport passenger who had a 6-inch butterfly knife in his bag; and the New Orleans passenger who had a loaded .380 caliber firearm--with a bullet in the chamber--in his carry-on bag.

"Unlike trick or treat, these passengers didn’t get to go home with their goodies. All of those items were confiscated. And due to jurisdictional laws, the passengers in the New York airports were cited for violating the local laws."

Farbstein notes that with hunting season here, passengers should check the coats they wear to the airport to make sure there's not a knife still in the pocket. She also suggests we think about what we're wearing, and leave behind apparel items like western belts with bullets for decorations, or that favorite belt with brass knuckles for a buckle. "Hand grenade belt buckle? We see it all. And the boots pictured...that were worn to JFK Airport—the ones with the shiny bullets and handgun barrel heel--please leave them in the closet instead of wearing them to the airport, even on Halloween. "

Many of the comments in response to Lisa's post pointed out that those belt buckles and boots all had one thing in common - they were not actual weapons, and were being worn by people who posed no threat.

FMI: http://blog.tsa.gov/2011/11/tsa-checkpointsthis-halloween-trick-or.html