Were there any communications one way or the other before this occurred? I think that might be an important point. How was the "weapons grade" comment justified? It obviously wasn't being used as a weapon, was it? If someone points a stick at me, it's unclear whether it's weapons grade until I'm poked with it, no?

(Written on 03/05/2020)(Permalink)

We seem to have somehow moved from unruly passengers to an army of heavily armed terrorists attacking an airport. That's what tactical response teams are for. You're talking completely hypothetically, where no significant risk of what you're suggesting exists. If you can come up with a single example of a perpetrator with an automatic weapon in a western airport, that'd be helpful. Some might also say that a hail of bullets from 2 automatic weapons might be more dangerous to the surrounding public than just one, too. 2 wandering police with automatic weapons are NOT the way to deal with large numbers of heavily armed criminals in an airport. That's not their job, at all, period, and it's not a valid reason for routine patrols to carry automatic rifles.

(Written on 02/23/2020)(Permalink)

The situations you're suggesting would be well covered by tactical response teams. We don't need heavily armed police wandering around in the quiet airport. Putting them there might be considered foolish since any criminal considering causing trouble would take their presence into account and plan appropriately, most likely by arming themselves in the same way. It looks like the police are starting an arms race, which is not a good idea. My contention is that a radio and a hand gun are more than enough for a routine patrol in an airport. If we could only get our police here in Australia to use pepper sprays and tazers, that would be a start. But, our police here in Aussie are more and more turning to firearms as the solution to deal with every "unruly" customer.... Airports are just one of the prime examples.

(Written on 02/23/2020)(Permalink)

Even with a full auto rifle, rate of fire is always selectable by careful use of the trigger. I still contend that they're a stupid weapon to carry in an airport though. I can't see any situation where automatic fire would be a good idea.

(Written on 02/23/2020)(Permalink)

I fully admit to being a dumb ass. I just think I'd be even dumber choosing an automatic rifle as something to carry around and potentially use in an airport. It's quite literally "overkill".

(Written on 02/23/2020)(Permalink)

Your US Police were just messing with him. Here in the Australian Police State, he would have been shot dead on the spot. Our Police consider knife sticks, pepper spray and tasers just dead weight. They never get used. Police at our airports walk around in pairs and every single one of them has an automatic rifle pointed in a random direction. Don't worry about collateral damage or the populous in general, automatic rifles it is.... I have no idea in what World it would be a good idea to use an automatic rifle in a crowded airport. But then I'm a dumb ass and the police probably have magic bullets which only hit terrorists.....

(Written on 02/20/2020)(Permalink)

It's a good question, but I'm not sure, from a legal perspective, that the flight crew have to answer it. My understanding of the Law, is that anyone can bring up to $10,000 into the us without declaring it or giving a reason. Hence, I'm pretty sure the Police must have had probable cause before they made the arrests, otherwise their case would founder. Maybe there is a stool pigeon in the flight crew. That's my theory. That would be the best evidence the Police could hope for, and the sort of thing that would make them confident enough to go public at the outset, as they have done.

(Written on 10/25/2019)(Permalink)

Carrying money is not laundering it. There must be some other probable cause, some intelligence the Police aren't letting out of the bag.

(Written on 10/25/2019)(Permalink)

No, AIR AFRIKAANS flight attendants. Check youtube and you'll understand what I'm suggesting!!

(Written on 10/05/2019)(Permalink)

The worst examples of the spoilt brats are found in business class. They "squeam and squeam and squeam" until they're sick! Lovely when you or your business class fellows have paid through the nose so we have a chance of sleeping before that important meeting on the other side of the world. All wrecked by one untrained toddler....

(Written on 10/05/2019)(Permalink)