Many of you have probably heard stories relating to the absurdity of random passenger screening at airports, a system designed to avoid violation of the “11th” commandment (Thou Shall Not Be Politically Incorrect). Stories like the one contained in this testimony (see Introduction section).
However, every once in a while, the decision to select the little old lady is not so absurd after all.
A grandmother, 79, was arrested allegedly trying to enter an airport with a pistol hidden in what looked like a book, police said.Margaret Anderson tried to pass Fort Lauderdale airport X-ray security with a .22-caliber handgun, the Broward County Sheriff’s office said in a statement.“The scanner screen revealed a small handgun inside the woman’s luggage.“Inside the tote bag deputies found a gun case, designed and manufactured to resemble a hardbound book, containing a single-shot Colt derringer.“The gun was unloaded but seven .22-caliber bullets were in the case next to the weapon,” the report said.Anderson said she knew the case contained a pistol, but had forgotten that it was in her tote bag, according to the sheriff.The arrest cut short her planned trip to the Bahamas.She was freed on 1,000 dollars’ bail, but faces charges that could bring a maximum of five years in prison, the sheriff said.
