This is Nuts! - TSA Busts Cop for Taking Weapon Accidently in Airport

[LKB3rd]

Originally Posted by LUVMYSIGP225

I have no problem with the TSA doing their job. It was a mistake on Farina's part, and he haas to deal with it.

However, screw Los Angeles Police for getting involved. Screw their registration. Screw their liberal laws.

I think that a better way to handle it would have been to tell him "No guns allowed, leave immediately." If he doesn't leave, charge him , if he does, no harm no foul.

[LKB3rd]

Originally Posted by afmo

so wait...an EX-cop tries to bring a gun on to an airplane and people are outraged? really? tough Sh!t...he knows the laws. Everyone who's even been semi-coherent since 9/11 knows you can't bring a gun onto an airplane.

Why should he get special treatment because he USED to be a cop? This harks back to the $310 dollar fine thread. Why is a cop somehow more valuable or held less accountable than any of us here?

he did the crime, now do the time just like everyone else...

To me, the issue is that they could have used some discretion, and his status as a cop would indicate his character and law abiding nature. What they chose to do instead was to make a show about how even clearly law abiding citizens who make honest mistakes will be charged with felonies, and have bail set as though they were a flight risk and a danger to society.
This type of discretion can be shown to all citizens, where it is advisable. Substitute the fact that he is a cop with the knowledge that he is a law abiding citizen, with a clean record and a history of responsible behavior, and you'll see what I mean. The fact that he is a cop doesn't need to be the whole story, it's the other factors that go along with it, that even non-cops could display..
This is a loud and clear statement that "common sense and reasonableness make no difference, you will be charged to the full extent of the law."

[eyesopened]

Why should cops be put on pedestals though? IMO opinion, with the kind of responsibility and power they wield they should be put under more scrutiny. I have no issue with him being charged like every other citizen.

[eric_t12]

IMO opinion, with the kind of responsibility and power they wield they should be put under more scrutiny. I have no issue with him being charged like every other citizen.

hear hear...

+1. More scrutiny and restriction is better for the State and its agents, than the People...

[afmo]

Originally Posted by LKB3rd

To me, the issue is that they could have used some discretion, and his status as a cop would indicate his character and law abiding nature. What they chose to do instead was to make a show about how even clearly law abiding citizens who make honest mistakes will be charged with felonies, and have bail set as though they were a flight risk and a danger to society.
This type of discretion can be shown to all citizens, where it is advisable. Substitute the fact that he is a cop with the knowledge that he is a law abiding citizen, with a clean record and a history of responsible behavior, and you'll see what I mean. The fact that he is a cop doesn't need to be the whole story, it's the other factors that go along with it, that even non-cops could display..
This is a loud and clear statement that "common sense and reasonableness make no difference, you will be charged to the full extent of the law."

The ex-cop is being treated exactly like any one of us would be treated. Its common knowledge that you DO NOT bring guns to airports. Whether you used to be a cop or not is irrelevant. They didn't make an example out of anyone, they applied the law equally amongst citizens. We can argue whether or not the law is stupid all day long...but its not the issue here. The main issue is that apparently some people think that police officers should be above the laws they enforce...

[Jettubby]

It has nothing to do with treating cops special or putting them on a pedestal people. This has to do with professonal/human behavoir and practice. I'm assuming all of you carry a cell phone daily when you go to work, play, or even out to check your mail. Let's say once a week you are called and told you can't carry you're cell phone on one of your trips out of the house and where and when is random. I guarantee that eventhough you acknowledge that you can't carry your phone on certain trips out of the house, just by habit you'll grab it and have it with you. Because carrying it is part of your normal behavior. I work with this concept in my job and it doesn't matter how smart or responsible you are; if you are in the habit of doing something for a period of time then it's engrained in your behavoir. Can you overcome that? Sure but the chances you'll continue that behavoir is strong.

As an LEO you carry weapons, magazines, knives, etc like one carries their keys and puts on underwear everyday. The chances are higher that when someone tells you on some days you can't carry this stuff, you'll make the mistake at least once. This is what this discussion is about. Not about putting cops above the law. Those of you that are not in this position can't understand it.

[Cogz]

As LKB3rd said - the better way to handle this would be to run his record - if he comes back clean tell him he cannot have firearms on airport property and escort him out. This should be applied to ALL citizens that come back clean though.

I have seen numerous threads about this topic though - and the most common sense talk is coming from here. Kudos.

[afmo]

Originally Posted by Jettubby

It has nothing to do with treating cops special or putting them on a pedestal people. This has to do with professonal/human behavoir and practice. I'm assuming all of you carry a cell phone daily when you go to work, play, or even out to check your mail. Let's say once a week you are called and told you can't carry you're cell phone on one of your trips out of the house and where and when is random. I guarantee that eventhough you acknowledge that you can't carry your phone on certain trips out of the house, just by habit you'll grab it and have it with you. Because carrying it is part of your normal behavior. I work with this concept in my job and it doesn't matter how smart or responsible you are; if you are in the habit of doing something for a period of time then it's engrained in your behavoir. Can you overcome that? Sure but the chances you'll continue that behavoir is strong.

As an LEO you carry weapons, magazines, knives, etc like one carries their keys and puts on underwear everyday. The chances are higher that when someone tells you on some days you can't carry this stuff, you'll make the mistake at least once. This is what this discussion is about. Not about putting cops above the law. Those of you that are not in this position can't understand it.

Except the laws concerning firearms and airports are not random and they are not enforced randomly. Its been the same and its still the same.

also...HE IS NOT A COP ANYMORE! He's an actor. just because you USED to be a cop doesn't mean you aren't still held accountable to the law that everyone else abides by.

I USED to be a maintenance worker...should i be able to take my old maintenance vehicle and drive into restricted areas because i USED to work there? no.

Why should an actor who USED to be a cop get preferential treatment when anyone here would be arrested and most likely lose our rights to own a gun?

[KenW.]

We need HR 218 to take to the skies. Wait, that'd make Air Marshalls obsolete...

The only time I fly is on extraditions, then it's with "flying armed training". We get to bypass all the BS.

[MGD 45]

Personally I believe the Second Amendment does not end at a TSA passenger screening checkpoint and neither does the Fourth Amendment against unreasonable search and seizure.

Well, airport searches are one of the exceptions to the 4th amendment related to search & seaizure.......so that's not going to change anytime soon.