Security Gone Too Far?

[Nervous Jock]

(connected in Frankfurt) and security was VERY heavy.

I flew through Frankfurt to Rome this year, frankly I felt I was nearly molested by the guard. He took thoroughness just a little far. A number of my mates moved security lines so they didn't have to go past this guy!!

[Nervous Jock]

On Friday 25th April I was flying from Glasgow airport to East Midlands. I was then bus'd to Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire for my companies 1 day conference.
I went kilted, as last year it went down well with the English.
I was wearing my plastic molded, no blade sgian dubh. Last year this was no problem, but it seemed to be this year. It was confiscated on the grounds that "the threat is still there". I also had to remove my sporran and belt, which thankfully were returned okay.
It's a sad day that we can't even wear our national dress through an airport.
Anyway, here's a poor photo of me taken with a cellphone outside the hotel awaiting pick up to the conference.

How often do you fly kilted?? Removing belts and sporrans has been the norm for quite some period. A sporran is just effectively a "bag" and could have anything in it. Your belt will more than likely set off the detector anyway so could mask something else. Did you just put them through the xray, was there ever really any chance of you not getting them back.

I frankly think its folly to try to get through even with a "don't" was it in your hose? or did you have it in you hand luggage. Did the guard give you the option of checking it in.

Lets be honest you whip it out on the plane wave it about and start screaming and shouting holding it to someones neck is anyone going to say "No worries its just a fake plastic one"??

Anyway I hope the conference went well

[beloitpiper]

Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither.

-Benjamin Franklin

I've always liked this quote.

[Nervous Jock]

I've always liked this quote.

You need to get a happy medium

My Dad

I've always liked this quote

[Coemgen]

I've always liked this quote.

Actually, that's not what he said. It's a common misconception, but the actual quote is:

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Anyway, since we're brandying quotes around:

I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it. — Thomas Jefferson

Back on topic: I think that while security is important, it does, in general, go too far these days. Putting your sporran through the scanner I can deal with. Confiscating nail clippers, sgian don'ts, and shampoo and toothpaste, not so much.

Personally, I think that the airports should have control over it, not the government. It seems that if it were a private enterprise, there would be a bigger incentive to have security done quickly and effectively.

[Darkislander]

Okay, glad to see the topic has generated interest. Last year going to the conference had 2 main differences. Firstly, my kilt was in my case so as I could surprise my colleagues travelling with me at the conference. Whilst standing in line at security check I asked what was allowed. I was told that the dummy sgian was fine to wear, but a real one should be packed in the hold. I only had to remove the sporran and dummy sgian through security coming through east midlands airport back home. Kilt pin was still on. Secondly, yes we had the failed attack since then so things probably got tighter. However, I still had the pin on this year, but had to remove the belt. I was offered the chance to go back into the airport and either check the sgian in or post it back to myself. I really couldn't be bothered as I got this one really cheap, but have since priced them at around $24 or 12 - 14 pounds.
I will be flying from Glasgow again in June, but I won't be kilted. No, I was really just saddened that no allowance was made for being a national. Airports - beware of raving looney scotsman trying to stump you to death with their plastic sgians !

[Nervous Jock]

Airports - beware of raving looney scotsman trying to stump you to death with their plastic sgians !

As I said earlier the person with it held to his throat will unlikely know the difference.

[elrond]

An italian journalist succeded some months ago in carryon on the plane a knife, a lighter and some other dangerous things... sometimes the inspections are absolutely stupid...
On saturday in my town we will have a visit from the Pope, Benedetto XVI in a chirch 1 miles far from my house.... we have here the army, the navy, the air force, local and national police and belileve me, if I would do some terroristic act I think I could do it easily... Luckily for the pope I'm not a terrorist! LOL!!

Sometimes I think that a lot of this precautions are really unnecessary, the only aim it is to show some strenght...

However.. lets' go on working for a peaceful world in which we can travel with much more serenity!

[BonnieT100]

Not kilt related, but a security story. While on the way to Iraq, we stopped at JFK airport in NY. We were allowed to go outside the secured area as it would take a while to refuel. As we were coming back in, we had to go through security, including removing our boots. The funny thing was, I had a rifle, 30 rounds of ammo, a bayonet, a multitool, and a folding knife all sitting on the plane. We were all wearing our uniforms and travelling together. When I went home on leave recently, I never had to remove my boots, but my lass had to remove her flip-flops to go through security with me. At least they let her come to the gate with me.

[Moski]

I think what some are missing is the the sgian don't had no blade and they confiscated it. There was no reason for this.