Just a link:

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories...EMPLATE=DEFAULT

Matt

Now my day is complete .... is THIS how local governments are going to finance their share of the ever-upward spiraling homeland security costs?

"...nor be deprived of ...property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." Bill of Rights, Amendment IV

Where is my just compensation? <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Were it that simple - the quote you cite is from the fifth Amendment (V, not IV), and the usual caveats about taking bits and pieces out of context apply... I'm not an "expert" in Constitutional law, but I reckon that IF anything applies to this circumstance, it would be the fourth amendment primarily. The fourth amendment deals with searches and siezures; the fifth is another animal entirely.

I think that nobody is angry about the security measures... people are just angry that their $50 tool is lost... I couldn;t care less about a nail file but I would be pretty much pissed off that somebody confiscated my sebenza and wave at the same time...

Matt

I'm angry about the "security" measures - because they have nothing to do with security.

Financing homeland security is the only explanation that makes sense. How else could anyone explain that it's unsafe to return your property so that you could return it to your vehicle or put it in your checked bag but it's ok to sell it back to you next week?

I don't think they can prevent you from returning an item to your car or putting it in your checked baggage if you wish to do so. Any security guard that tries to prevent this is overstepping his authority and running the risk of disciplinary action, I would think.

I'm afraid that's not true. They can and will confiscate knives from you.

They way it was put to me at the local airport is that once you present your knife or whatever for inspection, either in the tray or by magnetometer detection, you have surrendered it. I realize different airport security organisations probably interpret the rules as they see fit or you might get lucky and catch a guard who's capable of reasonable and individual thought. Pre-9/11 if you forgot you had a handgun in your briefcase you were arrested immediately, not given a chance to check the gun or put it in your car. Given the menacing nature of the average SAK, I guess you could just consider yourself lucky if all you had to do was surrender your property. Like some others on the forum, I think I'll just drive.

Ed