Loaded gun found in child's teddy bear at MCO..

[HoolyM]

This whole story sounds strange, if someone was trying to smuggle a gun to someone else how would they know where it was going by giving it to a hotel guest? I have a sneaky feeling it was mom/dad's gun and they put it in the toy themselves, coming up with the "stranger gave it to us" story when it was found.

 

[Selket]

Perhaps the parents with the upset child (from Barney getting scanned) are not used to flying and didn't know to prepare the child for the security. It is hard to think of every single thing in advance that your child might react to.

Once when going through security at a London airport when I was much younger (21) the scanning attendant stopped me and quizzed me about the contents of one of my bags. A few officers came over as well. He was so polite however! He showed me the scan and it looked like a gun! Ack! Turns out that my luggage strap was rolled up and just happened to resemble a handgun. I was afraid someone had slipped something into my luggage because I had slept at the airport the night before (with hundreds of other people around my age). You never know!

 

[Spartan]

Very strange story. It didn't say how large the teddy bear was, but it seems hard to imagine not noticing either the added weight or lump from putting a gun into it. It also didn't mention whether the safety was on or not - if it was off, I can't imagine what could have almost been.

 

[kessieann]

As a mom of a once Baby Bop toting, Barney theme song singing, tantrum throwing toddler I appreciated Barney reference and got a chuckle out of it. At no time did I believe that anyone wished true harm to come to the Barney toting child. I am also soooo happy that my now 5 year old has moved on and shares my love of everything princess

As far as the story itself I am sure we are not privy to all of the details of what actually happened. I find it very unlikely that a child just randomly knocked on some door and said "here you want this." There is much more to this story that the media obviously didn't have at the time they printed the article but in a rush to make headlines who needs details?

 

[soccer mom]

Maybe the guy knew there destination, was on the same flight as the family, and was going to snatch the bear back when it got through all the security at the final destination. I think I've been reading too many mysteries, but that was my take on it!

As far as the other topic in this thread; I'm a secretary in a junior high school with 1200 students where most of the population is middle and upper-middle class families. Let me tell you that I am scared for this society and our future as a species! It is not very often that a parent backs an administrator on discipline. Usually the parent comes storming in and instead of grabbing their kid and dragging them out of there, they are ready to take on the administrator! I could go on a long time with stories about this, better stop now before I get myself in trouble!

 

[sgtdisney]

I was reading more news stories on this and apparently it was a young girl who approached this family at their 'Orlando Area' hotel and gave the bear to this family's 9 year old son. She claimed that she couldn't keep it. The mother said ok. Probably thought the girl had a crush on her son or something like that and maybe that is why the mother didn't question the motives of the gift giver as much.. The FBI interrogated this family and decided that they had no connection to the gun and let them continue on, keeping the bear of course.

 

[gm]

It seems everytime I fly, they ask me "did a stanger or anyone you do not know give you something to take along"? something in those lines and they ask this when I check my baggage in before I go to the xray machines..

I was also under the impression that if you had a gun in your posession whether or not it is yours, you are taken to jail. LOL I guess now they interragote and release you. I wonder if that would have been a case if the family was of Middle Eastern Decent.

Scary to say the least!!! Now I really appreciate them for checking shoes too!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by WendyinNC
Why would you say such a thing? I'm sure if you were a young child and a stranger tried to take your favorite stuffed animal away and put it through a strange machine you would ball your eyes out. Or maybe not since you seem to have a cold heart.

There is a difference between being upset and throwing a tantrum. Maybe you like them and tolerate them, but, trust me, the folks around you do not. I have three children, all adults now, and only one of the three ever threw a tantrum and trust me, that one was short lived. Cold heart, not in the least, I just don't like badly behaved children and I really dislike the parents more. There is absolutely no excuse for a badly behaved child.