TSA throw's out childs buzz lightyear WDW souvenir

kamik86 · Nov 23, 2015

This article (that says he got it back) has a picture of the toy... its not even a blaster one... http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...toy-looked-gun-crying-child-article-1.2442557

As for painting the guns colors. If a TSA agent can't tell the difference between a plastic toy gun and a real one when it is in their hands they are morons that need a new job.

I am generally one of the first to defence police officers and those that think a gun is real when its pointed at them from across the room... but when your holding the gun I don't think there is any excuse.

Aurora0427 · Nov 23, 2015

ParrotBill said:
The problem is the TSA's own rules are too subject to interpretation. This is what is ALLOWED in carryons according to the TSA web site:

Toy Weapons (if not realistic replicas)

So it is up to the gate to decide what is a realistic replica. But we've all heard it being interpreted strictly and even bright colors of plastic guns have been confiscated and even toy light sabers confiscated.

I'm sorry... Toy light sabers? Because that technology has been invented. Wait. Just kidding. No it hasn't. That's just stupid, TSA.

DebbieB · Nov 26, 2015

linzjane88 said:
My cousin, a total POTC fanatic, brought a POTC gun and packed it in his carry-on. I looked over at the XRAY as his stuff was going through and saw the clear-as-day outline of a handgun . TSA did not approve or find it amusing. Then again I don't think they are capable of finding anything amusing. I have been in many airports and have yet to see one smile yet.

I managed to bring a pretty decent sized knife through the airport accidentally. I was in Alaska and got a knife engraved with my dads name on it for him and threw it in my giant purse where it stayed unnoticed by me until I went through airport security. Went thru the scanner and nobody cared. This was about 2 months ago.

A friend of mine had a POTC gun for her son, pre 9/11. She had it in a large shopping bag she was carrying on. They bounced on that bag. They gave her the option of going back and checking it or they would take it. Since luggage check was free then and we had some time, we went back to the counter. They put it in a small box and checked it. It was funny when this small box comes around on the luggage carousel at our home airport!

One time I accidentally put a 5oz tube of Clinique sunscreen that was $18 in my carryon. They caught it, I just let them take it. Ugh!

yitbos96bb · Nov 26, 2015

mom2alix said:
Security Theater. Don't we all feel safer knowing that TSA is apparently staffed with idiots?

Much like the ridiculous bag searches into the park. Total security theater. I guess it might filter a little stupidity but anyone wanting to get a weapon or bomb into the parks simply needs to have it on them and it is in.

BeerMe · Nov 27, 2015

yitbos96bb said:
Much like the ridiculous bag searches into the park. Total security theater. I guess it might filter a little stupidity but anyone wanting to get a weapon or bomb into the parks simply needs to have it on them and it is in.

I don't know this for a fact but I've heard that the bag checks are more to slow people down so profilers can check the incoming guests for suspicious people. I would guess I've been tracked more than once.

Plaid Princess · Nov 27, 2015

Tozzie said:
You do realize that criminals paint guns to look like toys to try and fool the police. Google images of real guns painted to look like toys and you will see what criminals do.

Yes, but if a "trained" government agent with the access to an x-ray scanner and the ability to test for explosive residue cannot tell the difference between a toy and a weapon that is in their hand, they need a new job.

BeerMe said:
I don't know this for a fact but I've heard that the bag checks are more to slow people down so profilers can check the incoming guests for suspicious people. I would guess I've been tracked more than once.

It's a bit more involved than that, because they are actually screening with the metal detectors etc, so they do catch the occasional knife or gun (usually from people who are too stupid to know they're not allowed)... but yes, it's total theater. TSA has never stopped a potential attack on an aircraft; all post 9/11 "terrorist attacks" have been stopped by the FBI or the Air Marshalls.

Baklava · Nov 27, 2015

Tozzie said:
You do realize that criminals paint guns to look like toys to try and fool the police. Google images of real guns painted to look like toys and you will see what criminals do.

You really, really need to Google the toy in question in this instance. Any TSA employee capable of thinking this was a gun needs to be removed from their position and probably not let out of the house unsupervised for their own safety.

dkrauss · Nov 27, 2015

This is what all the fear mongering that goes on today on cable tv and talk radio has led us too...................a green and purple..........GREEN and PURPLE toy is taken from a 5 year old.

Disney should try and make this right.

Doug :goofy:

Tozzie · Nov 29, 2015

Baklava said:
You really, really need to Google the toy in question in this instance. Any TSA employee capable of thinking this was a gun needs to be removed from their position and probably not let out of the house unsupervised for their own safety.

I did google it

dkrauss said:
This is what all the fear mongering that goes on today on cable tv and talk radio has led us too...................a green and purple..........GREEN and PURPLE toy is taken from a 5 year old.

Disney should try and make this right.

Doug

These are all actual guns, and they are pretty colors would you like one of them on your flight? This has nothing to do with fear mongering, criminals have been doing this long before 9/11

Now tell me how wrong the TSA was?

kamik86 · Nov 30, 2015

Tozzie said:
I did google it

These are all actual guns, and they are pretty colors would you like one of them on your flight? This has nothing to do with fear mongering, criminals have been doing this long before 9/11

View attachment 137912 View attachment 137913 View attachment 137912 View attachment 137912 View attachment 137913 View attachment 137915

Now tell me how wrong the TSA was?

The color isn't the reason they should be fired.

The toy was more of a grabber then a gun. Those pictures look like guns. This toy did not.

NOw if the story was about a person being shot by police because they had a toy nerf gun and they were pointing it at people I would be ok with that. Telling any of the guns in your pictures from a toy when it is pointing at you or someone else would be very difficult.

I still think any government employee that can't tell the difference when they are holding the gun though is an idiot. At that point
1) The TSA agent had the gun, not the kid or parents.
2) They had all the time they needed to decide if the gun is real or not, because the TSA agent had the gun so there is no reason to make a rash decision, no one is going to get shot if you take 30 seconds too long to make a decision.
3) You even have tools like an xray machine and explosive residue test to help you make this decision if you need them.

Eoghann · Nov 30, 2015

Aurora0427 said:
Toy light sabers? Because that technology has been invented

Oh there's a story I so wish I could share, pretty sure it's company proprietary though...

wilkeliza · Nov 30, 2015

Now that I saw a picture of this toy it is even more ridiculous! I thought maybe we were talking one of the buzz blasters or something more like the POTC toy guns not this grabber. It isn't even a toy gun it is an arm extension!

Shonte Durrett · Nov 30, 2015

Those photos above of the "painted guns" look like colorful guns. Toys made into real guns/weapons.... The thing is..... THIS ISN'T even a "toy gun" it's a flip grip. Does it shoot anything out? This doesn't even look like a toy gun... Would be different if it looked like a gun.

And I appreciate the TSA, IF they are doing their job well and truly protecting us; but some do miss a lot of serious stuff like knives, razor blades, lighters, etc... and do nothing. I am all about tossing something if TSA is worried for the safety of others but like with ALL occupations there are ALWAYS those few idiots who go overboard and try to think their poop don't stink. There are those that do arrogant and cocky things just to show off that they can because they have control. That's just one of the reasons there are many more... but there's always those few in all professions that ruin it for the others who are cautious and smart about everything.

Baklava · Nov 30, 2015

Tozzie said:
I did google it

These are all actual guns, and they are pretty colors would you like one of them on your flight? This has nothing to do with fear mongering, criminals have been doing this long before 9/11

Now tell me how wrong the TSA was?

SO SO SO SO SO WRONG! Wrongest wrong ever to be wrong with wrong sandwich and a side of wrong sauce.

That's how wrong they were. Because really, color aside, if one is too confused to tell a GUN from a lightweight plastic GRABBER, one does not belong in security of any kind. The issue here is not "pretty colors" as you so condescendingly call it, it's "gun" vs. "not gun." Not "toy gun" vs. "real gun." The thing in question is CLEARLY not a gun of any variety to anyone I would trust with my safety or that of my children. An agent who can misidentify this as a gun is also going to be likely to fail to identify an *actual* gun.

Spacedog1975 · Dec 1, 2015

MCO TSA can be especially cranky IMHO. I'm sure it's the volume. I left sunblock in my backpack after a park day, and you'd think I'd been trying to smuggle drugs given the hostility of the reaction.

Disneychick75 · Dec 1, 2015

rwdavis2 said:
Yes, but rials are showing the TSA misses over 75% of the banned items that pass through the check points. If someone wants to terrorize at an airport they are going to do it regardless of how hard the TSA works. Maybe they should concentrate on real threats and not toy guns.

I carry over sized liquids every time we fly. There's 1 place you're supposed to declare them but I don't. The bags go through the scanners with nary a boo. If I'm ever caught, oh well, they can toss the stuff.
The TSA agents we've dealt with for various and sundry issues have been nice but gosh, others look like they'd be at home in a torture chamber-so grim.

ruthie_ · Dec 1, 2015

aww poor kid. I wonder if we will hear any conclusion to this matter. The TSA are looking into it... hmmm... wonder what will actually happen. Poor kid! My DS would be devastated.

How is that a realistic replica? The intent of banning realistic replicas would seem to be to prevent threats and people trying to intimidate others. Who's going to be intimidated by a grabbing arm? I wouldn't even associate that with a gun. Would I want a kid to have a grabbing toy on a plane? Nope - that would probably be pretty annoying. But the toy does not seem to violate their rules. That seems pretty straightforward, not subject to interpretation... seems like a violation of their rules to have thown it away on the poor kid...

briggscreek · Dec 4, 2015

That is so ridiculous, they look nothing like a real gun! I was in LA a few years ago for a meeting and bought an Indiana Jones crystal skull in Adventureland for my son. When I went through security, I turned around and saw my bag on the xray screen, clear as day it looked like I had a human skull in there! I ended up in a little room with a very unfriendly TSA officer who wouldn't say a word to me until she wiped my bag down and checked it out. It was pretty funny, but I'm very careful about what I carry on now!

DisneyPigFan · Dec 5, 2015

ruthie_ said:
aww poor kid. I wonder if we will hear any conclusion to this matter. The TSA are looking into it... hmmm... wonder what will actually happen. Poor kid! My DS would be devastated.

How is that a realistic replica? The intent of banning realistic replicas would seem to be to prevent threats and people trying to intimidate others. Who's going to be intimidated by a grabbing arm? I wouldn't even associate that with a gun. Would I want a kid to have a grabbing toy on a plane? Nope - that would probably be pretty annoying. But the toy does not seem to violate their rules. That seems pretty straightforward, not subject to interpretation... seems like a violation of their rules to have thown it away on the poor kid...

Yes, it was resolved a few weeks ago per the Daily News article shared earlier in this topic.

From that article:

On Friday, Levi Zilka was reunited with his seized toy, when a TSA agent brought the item, a Buzz Lightyear “Flip Grip,” and another new plaything to the family’s house, the dad wrote on his Facebook page.

“I know how much this toy means to you and I wanted to make sure it found its way home to you,” Kelly Hoggan, an assistant administrator with the transportation agency wrote in a letter to Levi.

Planogirl · Dec 5, 2015

DisneyPigFan said:
Yes, it was resolved a few weeks ago per the Daily News article shared earlier in this topic.

From that article:

So you had an overzealous TSA agent take the toy and now the whole situation has been sensibly resolved? This is nice and feels unusual.

TSA throw's out childs buzz lightyear WDW souvenir

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