[adpowers]

I flew yesterday and found a rifle bullet+cartridge on the "secure" side of the TSA checkpoint. Yet somehow the gift-wrapped paperbacks in my checked luggage were deemed suspicious and unwrapped. Useless fools.

[frig8]

You know, it's not entirely unreasonable that someone could package a bomb to look like a gift-wrapped paperback. So if their technology can't distinguish your book from a potential explosive via X-rays alone, it may have to get opened. Explosives detection results in false alarms, unfortunately, but as far as I know most countries do it and it rarely results in such inconvenience to passengers.

The rifle cartridge is obviously on their contraband list, so it should have been caught. Someone probably brought it through accidentally. .22 LR?

[mseebach]

My SO once bought a small blender (less the blade) through in her hand luggage - I understand and respect why they asked to take a closer look at that. But if a bomb is indistinguishable from a paperback, then a bomb is indistinguishable from a bag full of clothes. Which means that the current level of security is woefully inadequate and only by opening up all luggage and carefully sifting through every one inch layer of material can we find hidden bombs.

Rather, this seems like a perfect example of the self-perpetuation suggested in the article. It takes a while, so there's a line, it look very meticulous and the victim isn't going to complain, or he might risk finding himself on a do-not-fly or do-harass list.

[pavel_lishin]

What do you mean "found"? You mean you accidentally left it in your luggage, or you just sort of found it laying outside a book store?

[adpowers]

It was sitting on the ground at the end of the table where you collect your belongings and repack your laptop. I showed it to TSA agent and went on my way.