Florida teen detained by TSA for design on her purse
It's not unusual for 17-year-old to find themselves in hot water with the fashion police. But on a flight from Virginia to Florida, Vanessa Gibbs found herself detained by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) over the appearance of her purse. 
And just to be clear, it wasn't the content inside the purse that the TSA objected to. No, agency officials took exception with the design of a gun on Gibbs' handbag.
"It's my style, it's camouflage, it has an old western gun on it," Gibbs told News4Jax.com. Gibbs didn't run into any trouble while traveling north from Jacksonville International Airport. But on her way back home, TSA officials at Norfolk International Airport pulled her aside.
"She was like, 'This is a federal offense because it's in the shape of a gun,'" Gibbs said. "I'm like, 'But it's a design on a purse. How is it a federal offense?'"
After TSA agents figured out the gun was a fake, Gibbs said, they told her to check the bag or turn it over. By the time security wrapped up the inspection, the pregnant teen missed her flight, and Southwest Airlines sent her to Orlando instead. The changed itinerary created no small amount of anxiety for Gibbs' mother, who was already waiting for her to arrive at the Jacksonville airport.
"Oh, it's terrifying. I was so upset," said Tami Gibbs, the teen's mom. "I was on the phone all the way to Orlando trying to figure out what was going on with her. It was terrifying."
Less terrifying is the actual design on the purse, which is only a few inches in size and hollow. "I carried this from Jacksonville to Norfolk, and I've carried it from Norfolk to Jacksonville," Vanessa said. "Never once has anyone said anything about it until now."
Nonetheless, the TSA says the design could be considered a "replica weapon," something that the agency has banned since 2002. Just imagine what would have happened if Gibbs had also been wearing stiletto heels.
Another reason not to step foot in an US airport.......IT is only going to get more nuts.....
What's next? This is truly nuts, flying is such a hassle with this so called security.
ReplyDeleteYes. Flying nowadays can be frustrating and more time cosuming than it used to be. On the one hand, the New Cruelty assures us that no one has an underwear bomb and that I will return from my vacation. On the other hand however, I have watched in DF, en route to Newark, as an 80+ abuelita was forced to rise from her wheelchir to be wanded. Her 60ish son had to help her. At least the Mexican version of the TSA had the grace to look ashamed as they tried to do it quickly and gently. I can't wait to get to Mexico so I don't have to do this any more frequently than is absolutely necessary.
ReplyDeleteViva Mexico!
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