• We are now running on a new, and hopefully much-improved, server. In addition we are also on new forum software. Any move entails a lot of technical details and I suspect we will encounter a few issues as the new server goes live. Please be patient with us. It will be worth it! :) Please help by posting all issues here.
  • The forum will be down for about an hour this weekend for maintenance. I apologize for the inconvenience.
  • If you are having trouble seeing the forum then you may need to clear your browser's DNS cache. Click here for instructions on how to do that
  • Please review the Forum Rules frequently as we are constantly trying to improve the forum for our members and visitors.

Asked to leave SeaTac Airport

Nebulis01

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2007
Messages
113
Location
Snohomish, Washington, USA
imported post

I was picking up my grandparents at the airport around 5:00PM today and was asked to the side by plainclothes security. They summoned PoS PD, TSA and an Air Marshal. We had a nice chat, they asked for my ID. (Because my mother was with me, i decided to play nice) They then asked me to leave the premises, because 'some international passenger' was 'alarmed' that a man with a gun was not in uniform! Rather than make an already large scene larger, and embarrass my mother further. Two officers escorted me to my car. I repeatedly asked for an incident number and badge numbers but wasn't given them :( They knew the law and said they were recently briefed that OC was perfectly legal but that when someone was 'alarmed' they would have to escort the offender off premise. I wish I could have fought it harder on scene but it frustrates me to no end to have to put up with stupidity about the law :(

I just felt like venting and letting you all know. :cuss:
 

BigDave

Opt-Out Members
Joined
Nov 22, 2006
Messages
3,456
Location
Yakima, Washington, USA
imported post

Sounds like you did a great job, maybe there is a little to be learned from your encounter we all could use a vision of Mom on our shoulder from time to time.

I would follow up with contacting with their supervisors, may not do any good but still on record of objecting to your right to Bear Arms.

The issue of scary carry is going to be with us for sometime until the legislature addresses the issue.
 

SpyderTattoo

Regular Member
Joined
May 22, 2008
Messages
1,015
Location
Kent, Washington, USA
imported post

Yep, you (in your own country) should have to leave the airport while legally carrying a firearmbecause someone from another country isn't used to that??????WTF! The security personnel should have told the "alarmed" foreigner that this is legal in Washington State (as well as most others) and don't worry about it.

Why should we have our rights infringed upon because of the feelings of a foreigner???
 

sudden valley gunner

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
16,674
Location
Whatcom County
imported post

olypendrew wrote:
The LEOs were the ones "alarmed," I bet. The foreigner was just an excuse.
+1. I am assuming you never removed it from your holster, or were menacing or threating any one else? There is no such thing as "scarry carry". You were either breaking the law or you weren't. I am assuming you were not.
 

jddssc121

Regular Member
Joined
May 21, 2008
Messages
282
Location
, ,
imported post

Nebulis01 wrote:
I was picking up my grandparents at the airport around 5:00PM today and was asked to the side by plainclothes security. They summoned PoS PD, TSA and an Air Marshal. We had a nice chat, they asked for my ID. (Because my mother was with me, i decided to play nice) They then asked me to leave the premises, because 'some international passenger' was 'alarmed' that a man with a gun was not in uniform! Rather than make an already large scene larger, and embarrass my mother further. Two officers escorted me to my car. I repeatedly asked for an incident number and badge numbers but wasn't given them :( They knew the law and said they were recently briefed that OC was perfectly legal but that when someone was 'alarmed' they would have to escort the offender off premise. I wish I could have fought it harder on scene but it frustrates me to no end to have to put up with stupidity about the law :(

I just felt like venting and letting you all know. :cuss:

What business does TSA and an Air Marshal have getting involved in the non secure area of an airport??? I would be filing some complaints.

If you want more history on the airport, and their lawyer's views, send me a PM
 

sv_libertarian

State Researcher
Joined
Aug 15, 2007
Messages
3,201
Location
Olympia, WA, ,
imported post

That sucks. They don't "have" to do something if someone is uncomfortable. They admit to knowing the law, and acknowledged you broke no laws, and yet still violated your rights. Complaints, as unlikely as they are to do anything it seems are in order.
 

Nebulis01

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2007
Messages
113
Location
Snohomish, Washington, USA
imported post

sudden valley gunner wrote:
olypendrew wrote:
The LEOs were the ones "alarmed," I bet. The foreigner was just an excuse.
+1. I am assuming you never removed it from your holster, or were menacing or threating any one else? There is no such thing as "scarry carry". You were either breaking the law or you weren't. I am assuming you were not.

Just wandering around the concourse looking for the alaska airlines oversize baggage counter so we could pick up the dog.
 

deanf

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
1,789
Location
N47º 12’ x W122º 10’
imported post

The Port's rule about guns in the airport is legally identical to Seattle's invalidated park rule.

Is this the rule they used to ask you to leave?
 

jddssc121

Regular Member
Joined
May 21, 2008
Messages
282
Location
, ,
imported post

funny timing. just got this from the Port this AM

Thank you for your patience. The Port has carefully considered the briefing and order in the case referenced in the article you forwarded. While the Port continues to believe its rule is important to ensure the comfort and safety of all persons visiting the Airport and to mitigate against terrorist threats, we have nonetheless elected to revise the rule.



While I expect that it will be several more days before the Airport Rules & Regulations are formally revised, Section III, Rule 16.a. will be amended to prohibit the carriage of firearms except as allowed by federal and state law. To the extent that federal and state law permit a person to carry a firearm outside the secured areas of the Airport, the Port of Seattle will respect that.



If you have any questions, please let me know.
 

gogodawgs

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
5,669
Location
Federal Way, Washington, USA
imported post

jddssc121 wrote:
funny timing. just got this from the Port this AM

Thank you for your patience. The Port has carefully considered the briefing and order in the case referenced in the article you forwarded. While the Port continues to believe its rule is important to ensure the comfort and safety of all persons visiting the Airport and to mitigate against terrorist threats, we have nonetheless elected to revise the rule.



While I expect that it will be several more days before the Airport Rules & Regulations are formally revised, Section III, Rule 16.a. will be amended to prohibit the carriage of firearms except as allowed by federal and state law. To the extent that federal and state law permit a person to carry a firearm outside the secured areas of the Airport, the Port of Seattle will respect that.



If you have any questions, please let me know.

Hoorah!

:monkey
 

BigDave

Opt-Out Members
Joined
Nov 22, 2006
Messages
3,456
Location
Yakima, Washington, USA
imported post

jddssc121 wrote:
funny timing. just got this from the Port this AM

Thank you for your patience. The Port has carefully considered the briefing and order in the case referenced in the article you forwarded. While the Port continues to believe its rule is important to ensure the comfort and safety of all persons visiting the Airport and to mitigate against terrorist threats, we have nonetheless elected to revise the rule.



While I expect that it will be several more days before the Airport Rules & Regulations are formally revised, Section III, Rule 16.a. will be amended to prohibit the carriage of firearms except as allowed by federal and state law. To the extent that federal and state law permit a person to carry a firearm outside the secured areas of the Airport, the Port of Seattle will respect that.



If you have any questions, please let me know.
Great Job! :celebrate
 

Tomas

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2010
Messages
702
Location
University Place, Washington, USA
imported post

jddssc121, was that an email or was it hard copy? Who was it from? If hard copy, could you scan it (redacted if needed) and post it?

It looks like they have gotten the message pretty well, now we just hope they act fairly quickly.
 

deanf

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
1,789
Location
N47º 12’ x W122º 10’
imported post

Well I'm glad the Port has finally come to their senses.

Expect a big lobbying effort to change the preemption statute. All these municipal corporations who have been defanged by Chan will be very cross over this issue and will be out to change the law.

(I understand that Chan is not the final say on this, but at least one powerhouse muni-corp with skin in the game has decided to abide by it for now.)
 

Bill Starks

State Researcher
Joined
Dec 27, 2007
Messages
4,304
Location
Nortonville, KY, USA
imported post

jddssc121 wrote:
funny timing. just got this from the Port this AM

Thank you for your patience. The Port has carefully considered the briefing and order in the case referenced in the article you forwarded. While the Port continues to believe its rule is important to ensure the comfort and safety of all persons visiting the Airport and to mitigate against terrorist threats, we have nonetheless elected to revise the rule.



While I expect that it will be several more days before the Airport Rules & Regulations are formally revised, Section III, Rule 16.a. will be amended to prohibit the carriage of firearms except as allowed by federal and state law. To the extent that federal and state law permit a person to carry a firearm outside the secured areas of the Airport, the Port of Seattle will respect that.



If you have any questions, please let me know.
Sweet !!
th_grouphug.gif
 
Top