"I Forgot" Again...
The “I Forgot” Excuse... Again
Incident: Gun Seizure (loaded) at security checkpoint, found in carry-on bag (backpack).
Location: Tweed Airport in New Haven, Connecticut
Date//Time/Day: August 3rd, 2023, Thursday afternoon
Subject: 46yo South Carolina man
Weapon: Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield (compact w/ external safety), loaded mag 8 rounds, one round in chamber, black finish.
Excuse: When found by a TSA officer during screening at the security checkpoint the subject stated, he was in a rush and forgot to put the firearm in his checked luggage.
We don't know where this SC man was headed, although we do know he missed his scheduled flight thanks to his lack of personal responsibility for being an armed citizen.
Luckily other passengers on the flight were spared by not having a passenger on board who “forgot” he had a loaded gun in his carry-on bag. No one had to sit next to this person who could have unintentionally discharged the firearm while rummaging through his backpack looking for a mint. The plane could have been thousands of feet in the air at the time. If the round punctured the plane's cabin, sudden decompression may have sent it diving to its unfortunate end.
A man who walked through a busy airport. Who walked along with and stood in line next to responsible passengers. The passengers who make sure they do not possess unauthorized items before arriving at the security checkpoint. They do this because they realize it is their responsibility as an adult, to ensure they do not hold up other passengers, delay flights, or put others in harm's way.
Most people who decide to carry a firearm do so for the purpose of self-protection. The ironic thing is, the OBC of a firearm in a backpack reduces your response time if the event the SHTF. Drawing from a concealed holster on your hip or IWB with a simple tug of the shirt is much faster than wrestling with a backpack, unzipping pockets, and digging for the tool that may have saved your life, three seconds ago.
Becoming an armed citizen is one of the most serious decisions a person can make. You are carrying a weapon that can easily kill a person standing right next to you, or fifty yards away. You are responsible for every aspect of that weapon at all times.
Conclusions: The subject;
failed to take his responsibility of carrying a firearm seriously thereby placing other airport guests and passengers in harm's way
failed to maintain the proper mental attitude about his firearm, keeping it at the forefront of his mind at all times
failed to plan ahead and manage his time to properly pack and prepare for his flight
failed by deciding to OBC his firearm versus having it concealed on his person
failed as a mature adult to set the proper example of gun safety and responsibility
failed to know the location and loaded status of his firearm at all times
failed all other armed citizens by giving the armed community one more black eye of stupidity
However, this is a law-abiding, up to this point anyway, armed citizen that the NRA wants to ensure their right to self-protection is never infringed upon. Let us not dare tell him he can't arm himself. Don't dare tell him he can't carry his firearm in a backpack that he may sit down somewhere and forget about. Even if he can't remember he is in possession of a firearm, don't restrict him from ever owning one.
So it looks like we'll just have to put up with it. The NRA has millions of dollars to bribe and pressure political cowards in Congress to stay well clear of any firearm restrictions. The general public doesn't seem to care that much. I guess most people are OK with missing their flight because of the irresponsible actions of a gun owner. They're OK with someone bringing a gun on their flight while they are thousands of feet in the air, with no parachute. Maybe the general public thinks this type of thing is a rare occurrence. The fact it happened more than 6,500 times last year must sound like nothing to them.
Just one more example of a grown-ass man, a so-called law-abiding citizen, who proved once again that most people are incapable of real gun control. He “forgot”... get real, or do us all a favor and don't carry.
(Incident information used in this post includes online articles by Angela Fortuna/nbcconnecticust.com, Caroline Tien/ctinsider.com, and TSA.gov. Opinions expressed are of this author.)
Keep reading, keep learning.
Take care,
One Eagle
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