I've seen this happen many many times.

I just landed in San Diego. As I was walking past the security line I saw an officer talking to a man with 5 rounds of what looked to be 9mm on a table in front of them. The man looked pretty shaken and the police officer was writing what looked to be a report or maybe a citation not sure.

My lesson was cheap... I lost a Mosin spam can opener.

It taught me that I need to keep my luggage clear of "shit" If you don't know what a Mosin spam can opener is...


It's like a 10" piece of metal. I had placed it in between the backpack and shoulder strap.
I had cleared that bag "clear" before loading it but I missed that.

We have had this discussion before and many have lost knives and other items (ammo, etc) Loose ammo is everywhere. In old pants and shirts and coats.

For those that are so outspoken... shit happens.
Just make sure your shit don't stink too much when you get busted. Of course if you don't fly... then there's no issue for you is there.

I hope we can all learn from this example and prevent others getting cited and/or press by media (no one wants this)...

I don't have issue with parts, rounds, brass, an empty mag, even knives or cans of pepper spray..... Shit gets tossed around in bags and pouches, I get that........
But an entire freaking Firearm?!
It's like the on duty, female officer in OK who left her service weapon in the public bathroom.
How in the hell do you walk out of a bathroom and not check your gear?

How do you NOT KNOW where you GUN is?

Does anyone know what happened to his gun?
Did it get confiscated and if so will he get it back?

Back in 02, I was travelling with my parents and little sister. The backpack I had was purchased from a student at my (then) school almost two years before. My backpack pings through the x-ray. We discover that I had left behind a pair of scissors by accident. No problem, I say they can chuck them. They run the bag again. Ping. wtf? Turns out there was a hidden pocket that I didn't even know EXISTED in the bottom of the pack. In there was a ~8 inch long rusted saw blade. As far as TSA was concerned, I might as well have had a turban and a suicide belt. They grilled my 15 year old self for almost an hour. Parents thought I'd been caught with drugs at first. It's humorous now, but definitely wasn't at the time.

A few years ago returning from Front Sight in Vegas I went through the process of declaring my firearms in my checked luggage. Finished the process and felt relieved that I was now ready to head to the gate. Sent my pack through the xray and got screened. Guy comes over and asks if it is OK to look through my pack, is there anything dangerous in there. "Go ahead - shouldn't be anything in there" say I. Last pocket he checks he pulls out an orange training gun that I had fully intended to place in my checked luggage when I got to the airport. Guy was cool. Put it back in the bag and sent me on my way.

Note to self....

Buy Keltec 3AT
Buy 3 cans of orange Plasti Dip
Load KelTec
Dip repeatedly until slightly uglier version....look close it will be hard to tell
Let Dry
Go through TSA checkpoint and tell them, "It's a training gun"