Security Shortlines

Air Safety Week, July 14, 2008

Lawsuit Filed over Atlanta Hartsfield Gun Ban

The nation's busiest airport is dueling with gun rights advocates over whether a new Georgia state law allows visitors to carry firearms at Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International. The airport was designated a "gun-free zone" when a law allowing people to carry guns on public transit and other places took effect. Gun rights supporters quickly filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the designation. Anyone carrying a gun at the airport could be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. Pro-gun backers argue that the airport qualifies as public transportation. The pro-gun group argues that weapons should be allowed in the terminal up to the point where passengers pass through security to board their flights. In Georgia, concealed handguns can be brought onto public transportation and into state parks, historic sites and restaurants that earn at least half their revenue from food sales. They are not allowed at athletic events, churches, political rallies or bars.

Travel Document Check Produces Arrest

As part of a new initiative to engage Behavior Detection Officers (BDOs) in checking travel documents, BDO Joshua Wensell was working at Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International's main security checkpoint when he was presented with ID that caught his attention. The passenger provided a birth date and address that did not match those on the ID he presented. The passenger started to behave oddly and suddenly took off running towards the airport's secure area. As the passenger sprinted up a security lane and toward a walk-through metal detector. An off-duty Atlanta police officer heard the BDO declare a security breach and grabbed the passenger. The "all clear" was sounded and normal operations quickly resumed. The passenger was taken into custody and charged with being in possession of and attempting to use fraudulent identification. He was carrying numerous types of ID with different names. Had this individual made it the 20 or so yards through the checkpoint and onto the airport's train system, all flight operations at the world's busiest airport would have been halted.

Shock Bracelet Considered for Airline Passengers?

The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly solicited a proposal from a Canadian security company to develop an airline passenger stun bracelet. The Lamperd Less Lethal's electro-muscular disruption (EMD) bracelet would incapacitate wearers on remote command. As reported by The Washington Times, Lamperd's Web site hosts a copy of a letter from an official with the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, expressing interest in the bracelet. As envisioned by the manufacturer, the flight crew would control the shock bracelets. Regarding passenger willingness to don a shock bracelet, the firm insists that the bracelets are totally inert until the flight is airborne and the flight crew determines an attack is underway.

Feds Probe Model Rocket Incident

The FBI and FAA officials are investigating whether a model rocket shot past a cockpit window of a Continental jet that had taken off May 26 from Houston's airport with 148 passengers on board. "We know that there was a sighting of an object," an FAA spokesman said. "But we don't yet know if it was a model rocket." The jet was flying at 4,750 feet when the rocket was reported. Flight 1544 continued to Cleveland after reporting the object to air traffic controllers. An investigation begun by the FAA and FBI has been slowed because the radar at George Bush Intercontinental did not detect the object. FAA officials have said model rockets have crossed paths with planes before but have never struck them.

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