Guard almost confiscated my “weapon” at the the Air and Space Museum.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Guard almost confiscated my “weapon” at the the Air and Space Museum. (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 9/12/2005 5:54:46 AM EDT

My girlfriend and I went to the Air and Space Museum this Saturday. The new big one near Dulles Airport, not the one in DC.

Anyway, I had, as I always do, my Gerber 3.00 AR pocket knife beltcliped to my pocket. Just the top half inch of it is visible sticking out of my pocket. Its always there, I never think bout it. When I saw them searching people at the front door I figured oh well, they will take it and give it back later(Amusement parks do that to me all the time.)

We walked in and they searched my girlfriend’s purse and sent us on our way. No metal detectors and none of the 5 Guards at the entrance noticed my knife.

We walked around, saw the SR-71, the Shuttle Enterprise, the Enola Gay, all sorts of cool stuff. About halfway through our tour a Guard spots me, looks at my pocket, and nervously walks towards us.

Guard: Excuse me…uh…I could not help but notice….uh…is that your pocket knife?
(Me Thinking) No genius, it’s your mothers pocket knife, I stole it from her.
Me: Yes sir
Guard: Can I see it?
Me: Sure (hand him my knife)
Me: It is within the legal limit of 3”.
Guard: (opens the knife) Um….yeah…..but…in the museum the limit is 2.5”
(Me Thinking) your full of shit.
Me: Oh
Guard: Did the guards say anything at the front door?
Me: No, they did not say anything.
Guard: (looking towards the front door) well…um….well….uh….just uh….
(Me Thinking) And I am about to pull out my CCW permit and ask if he is gonna give me crap about a pocket knife.
Guard: Well…put it deep in your pocket and don’t show it. No point in making a big deal, and embarrassing the front door guards. (hands back knife)
Me: Okay, thanks. (puts knife inside pocket)

Gotta love it.

Posted: 9/12/2005 5:57:47 AM EDT

[#1]

It was for the kids

Dang what is the world coming too??????????????????????????

Posted: 9/12/2005 5:58:48 AM EDT

[#2]

WTF! Did he think you were going to hijack the SR71?

Posted: 9/12/2005 5:58:53 AM EDT

[#3]

What a putz he was... jiminy christmas...

Smooth move just going along, though I wouldn't have blamed you if you had said, "Put your bullet back in your pocket, Barney. It's legal.."

So the museum's legal limit is .5" shorter than the law? fuckin' retarded if true...

Posted: 9/12/2005 5:59:25 AM EDT

[#4]

What about your gun?

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:00:00 AM EDT

[#5]

Fucking JBT, trying do do his job and disarm a citizen!! Where will it all end!!

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:00:47 AM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
What about your gun?

Left it in the truck.

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:02:42 AM EDT

[#7]

Wow, just wow. Cross that spot off my places to visit list. Maybe you should post this in the VA forum too so everybody in our neck of the woods knows? MJD

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:03:38 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Fucking JBT, trying do do his job and disarm a citizen!! Where will it all end!!

I bet that evil JBT will go home to his family after his shift too!

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:05:48 AM EDT

[#9]

can you draw down on someone with a knife?

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:08:06 AM EDT

[#10]

can you CCW in a museum or are they considered no-no .gov buildings (or possibly prohibit on their own)?

i just thinking how craptastic that guards day would have been [already nervous about a little pocket knife] if he/they had found a gun...

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:09:16 AM EDT

[#11]

I Love how they search a woman's purse. So many women are bombing museums these days. It's an epidemic.

And, obviously a 2.5" blade is more dangerous in a museum than in the real world.

TRG

PS. Politicians and Terrorist agree, unarmed victims are great!

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:31:05 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
WTF! Did he think you were going to hijack the SR71?

Shhhhhhhhh.........

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:33:59 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:

can you CCW in a museum or are they considered no-no .gov buildings (or possibly prohibit on their own)?

i just thinking how craptastic that guards day would have been [already nervous about a little pocket knife] if he/they had found a gun...

I was not sure. So I left the gun in the truck.
The knife I never think about.

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:40:23 AM EDT

[#14]

You kept your cool a little better than I did at St. Louis Six Flags this summer. I also have the habit of carrying a knife with me everywhere I go and not giving it a second thought.

I got stopped at the metal detector and had the smaller version of your Gerber knife in my pocket. Security guard told me no way I was going in there with the knife. My response was something to the effect of "Right, I can see how you would be afraid of me hijacking the Screamin' Eagle and taking the whole park hostage with a 2" pocket knife, I'll return it to my truck right away comrade"

I think that he really appreciated my candor. Not.

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:52:36 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
You kept your cool a little better than I did at St. Louis Six Flags this summer. I also have the habit of carrying a knife with me everywhere I go and not giving it a second thought.

I got stopped at the metal detector and had the smaller version of your Gerber knife in my pocket. Security guard told me no way I was going in there with the knife. My response was something to the effect of "Right, I can see how you would be afraid of me hijacking the Screamin' Eagle and taking the whole park hostage with a 2" pocket knife, I'll return it to my truck right away comrade"

I think that he really appreciated my candor. Not.

Oddly enough, if I get 'searched' as a requirement for entering a business. Guess where I take my money?

TRG

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:58:04 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
I Love how they search a woman's purse. So many women are bombing museums these days. It's an epidemic.

And, obviously a 2.5" blade is more dangerous in a museum than in the real world.

TRG

PS. Politicians and Terrorist agree, unarmed victims are great!

Yeah, me and the wife went out to eat on the Space Needle one time, and they were "searching" bags before sending people up on the elevator. Meaning, they were searching purses because that's the only "bag" anyone is going to bring to a restaurant. They looked in my wife's purse and I asked what *exactly* were they looking for. "Oh, bombs, guns, stuff like that, to keep you safe." Meanwhile I had my CCW piece on me. What a bunch of crap. They even searched an old lady in a wheelchair.

Posted: 9/12/2005 6:58:10 AM EDT

[#17]

There is no "legal blade length" in Virginia, except a few local ordinances (like the 3.25" rule in Richmond).

The real problem is that there is case law and an AG's Opinion from a long time ago that suggest that a locking folder is a weapon "of like kind" to those defined in 18.2-308 (Virginia's CCW code provision).

So, the question then becomes - is carrying it clipped and partially visible considered "concealed," and is a locking folder a weapon of "like kind." Answers to both questions are not clear.

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:01:25 AM EDT

[#18]

Going through metal dectors a couple of times I just put my knife under the tray for change and keys and picked it up on the other side.....

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:07:15 AM EDT

[#19]

Okay, so what can we attribute these kind of situations to?

A) Political correctness gone crazy.

B) Ignorance...

C) Lack of or improper training.

D) Over zealousness, boredom.

E) Fear of lawsuits.

D) All of the above.

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:09:20 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
WTF! Did he think you were going to hijack the SR71?

An "8 year old' android boy did in D.A.R.Y.L., so no telling what an adult can do.

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:12:12 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Going through metal dectors a couple of times I just put my knife under the tray for change and keys and picked it up on the other side.....

Yep - that's what I do too.

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:12:33 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
Quoted:
You kept your cool a little better than I did at St. Louis Six Flags this summer. I also have the habit of carrying a knife with me everywhere I go and not giving it a second thought.

I got stopped at the metal detector and had the smaller version of your Gerber knife in my pocket. Security guard told me no way I was going in there with the knife. My response was something to the effect of "Right, I can see how you would be afraid of me hijacking the Screamin' Eagle and taking the whole park hostage with a 2" pocket knife, I'll return it to my truck right away comrade"

I think that he really appreciated my candor. Not.

Oddly enough, if I get 'searched' as a requirement for entering a business. Guess where I take my money?

TRG

Is this one of those questions where I get three guesses and the first two don't count?

Unfortunately, we had already purchased our tickets as part of my brother-in-law's teacher discount group buy and we had carpooled up there with his wife and him so I wouldn't have had a way home (2 hours away). Otherwise yes, I was pissed off enough to have just left and probably would have had more fun catching a Cards game or something instead.

Also I guess bad on me for not researching to see what their policy was. Like I said, I just took carrying a pocket knife for granted.

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:14:34 AM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Quoted:
What about your gun?

Left it in the truck.

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:23:07 AM EDT

[#24]

You got off easy. About nine years ago, I was visiting Washington DC and decided to go to the Capitol Building. It was winter, I was wearing a heavy coat, and in my pocket was a box of Port 7.62.

Needless to say, the metal detector went off. I was taken into custody by the Capitol Police, and got a neato tour of the Capitol basement corridors. It looked like a dungeon down there...

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:31:20 AM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
You got off easy. About nine years ago, I was visiting Washington DC and decided to go to the Capitol Building. It was winter, I was wearing a heavy coat, and in my pocket was a box of Port 7.62.

Needless to say, the metal detector went off. I was taken into custody by the Capitol Police, and got a neato tour of the Capitol basement corridors. It looked like a dungeon down there...

Unregistered ammo

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:33:24 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
You got off easy. About nine years ago, I was visiting Washington DC and decided to go to the Capitol Building. It was winter, I was wearing a heavy coat, and in my pocket was a box of Port 7.62.

Needless to say, the metal detector went off. I was taken into custody by the Capitol Police, and got a neato tour of the Capitol basement corridors. It looked like a dungeon down there...

damn dude!

When I was about 6 years old I went to the Capitol Building. I had one of those flip out hair combs that looked like a switch blade that were all the rage of elementary school kids in the mid 80's. The guard was fascinated by it and kept trying to figure out how to get the "real" blade to come out. He reluctantly gave it back.

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:33:27 AM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
You got off easy. About nine years ago, I was visiting Washington DC and decided to go to the Capitol Building. It was winter, I was wearing a heavy coat, and in my pocket was a box of Port 7.62.

Needless to say, the metal detector went off. I was taken into custody by the Capitol Police, and got a neato tour of the Capitol basement corridors. It looked like a dungeon down there...

I thought I was the only person who had ever found random boxes of ammo at odd/inopportune times.

Posted: 9/12/2005 7:41:42 AM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
Quoted:
You got off easy. About nine years ago, I was visiting Washington DC and decided to go to the Capitol Building. It was winter, I was wearing a heavy coat, and in my pocket was a box of Port 7.62.

Needless to say, the metal detector went off. I was taken into custody by the Capitol Police, and got a neato tour of the Capitol basement corridors. It looked like a dungeon down there...

I thought I was the only person who had ever found random boxes of ammo at odd/inopportune times.

I've done that too. I put on a jacket once and I found a full box of .45ACP hydrashocks. MJD

Posted: 9/12/2005 9:16:35 AM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
WTF! Did he think you were going to hijack the SR71?

After the guard left you etched "mJohn was here" on every display, right?

Posted: 9/12/2005 9:20:24 AM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
WTF! Did he think you were going to hijack the SR71?

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD HAVE SAID.

Me: "I'm here to hijack the SR71

Posted: 9/12/2005 9:21:41 AM EDT

[#31]

Everyone knows it's physically impossible to hijack or rob anyone with a 2.5" knife. You need at least 3".

Posted: 9/12/2005 10:06:58 AM EDT

[#32]

My wife has a flat plastic cat face on her key chain. You put your finger through the eyes and the pointed ears stick out. Kinda like brass knuckles.

I never think much of it. One day we went to the the Hoover Dam. Waited in line for 1/2 hour and got to a check point. I place the keys and the cat head in the tray at the metal detector expecting to be questioned. The guards didn't even bat an eye.

I fogot where I got the key chain but it great protection since no one ever sees what it is.

Posted: 9/12/2005 10:21:15 AM EDT

[#33]

So I guess my 4" auto knife would be a no-no....

If I had one, hypothetically speaking of course!

Posted: 9/12/2005 10:29:35 AM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:
I Love how they search a woman's purse. So many women are bombing museums these days. It's an epidemic.

And, obviously a 2.5" blade is more dangerous in a museum than in the real world.

TRG

PS. Politicians and Terrorist agree, unarmed victims are great!

Who Knows...Could be a Disgruntled Museum Goer lol

Posted: 9/12/2005 11:04:55 AM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:
Quoted:
I Love how they search a woman's purse. So many women are bombing museums these days. It's an epidemic.

And, obviously a 2.5" blade is more dangerous in a museum than in the real world.

TRG

PS. Politicians and Terrorist agree, unarmed victims are great!

Who Knows...Could be a Disgruntled Museum Goer lol

I am usually gruntaled.

Posted: 9/12/2005 11:15:40 AM EDT

[#36]

I can't believe no one has asked you about taking your pistol into occupied territory.

Posted: 9/12/2005 11:37:07 AM EDT

[#37]

Interesting story mjohn and it reminds me of my trip to Disney Land wiith my kids last month. I had already been in the park once that day and had gone back to my hotel for lunch. Well my wife took the shuttle back while I walked the 6 blocks or so back to the park. This time the guard notices my Schrade utiity pliar/knife/philips ect. in its pouch on my side. He informs me that I cannot take it inside so I request to see his supervisor (I had already spent several hours in the park and had somehow restrained myself from taking any innocent sheeple hostage). Sup tells me the "knife" is not coming inside period so I ask if they will keep it for me since I did not bring a car and the room is a bit of a walk back. They say noway so I leave, walk down the block heave the knife in the bushes while taking note of an easily identifiable landmark and return to the park unmolested this time. 11 o'clock that night I leave the park retrieve my killer "knife" and walk back to the room.

Posted: 9/12/2005 11:40:03 AM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:
Me: It is within the legal limit of 3”.
Guard: (opens the knife) Um….yeah…..but…in the museum the limit is 2.5”

It would have been a good time to hit the "press to test" button and say, "I missed that on the information posted outside. Could you show it to me?"

Posted: 9/12/2005 11:42:09 AM EDT

[#39]

he probably thought it was a cool knife and wanted to see it

yall have tight 'security'

Posted: 9/12/2005 11:59:21 AM EDT

[#40]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Me: It is within the legal limit of 3”.
Guard: (opens the knife) Um….yeah…..but…in the museum the limit is 2.5”

It would have been a good time to hit the "press to test" button and say, "I missed that on the information posted outside. Could you show it to me?"

Its a big damn airplane hangar, and we were a long long ways from the front door, and up 3 floors. I'm to lazy for that just to prove a point.

Posted: 9/12/2005 12:06:54 PM EDT

[#41]

Quoted:
can you draw down on someone with a knife?

Perhaps my anatomy is different than others, but I cant draw down on anyone, Im always drawing up

Posted: 9/12/2005 12:15:05 PM EDT

[#42]

hey, when you went in the dulles museum, did you have to go through a metal detector or did they "wand" you or was it just a hand search?

i'm fixin' to go there next weekend and if it's just a hand search, i'll just keep my knife deep in my pocket.

Posted: 9/12/2005 12:26:37 PM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:

i'm fixin' to go there next weekend and if it's just a hand search, i'll just keep my knife deep in my pocket.

That is what I did, I just kept my knife in my pocket and they missed it entirely - but they searched my wife's fanny pack

.

Speaking of Disney. Last time I was there (3 years ago) I went right through their security with my 4" Kershaw Blackout and some personal pepper spray in my pockets.

My wife had both her Spyderco Firefly (about a 2" semi-serrated blade) and a much larger Victornox (Swiss Army Knife). Somehow the Guards missed her Spyderco but found the Victornox and held it "for her safety". Jeez I could have CCWed a bazooka and they would have missed it.. Anyway when she goes back at the end of the day to pick it up - they escort her from the security building to outside the gate like my 5'2" wife/mother of 2 was a dangerous criminial. Rather Bizzare.

Posted: 9/12/2005 12:30:56 PM EDT

[#44]

I think everyone is missing the most important part: You have a DC CCW?!

Posted: 9/12/2005 12:33:16 PM EDT

[#45]

Quoted:
I think everyone is missing the most important part: You have a DC CCW?!

Um the air and space we all are talking about is in Virginia, not DC.

Original post:

Quoted:
My girlfriend and I went to the Air and Space Museum this Saturday. The new big one near Dulles Airport, not the one in DC.

Posted: 9/12/2005 12:36:09 PM EDT

[#46]

Quoted:
Oddly enough, if I get 'searched' as a requirement for entering a business. Guess where I take my money?
TRG

You "like" those kinds of "searches"....

Posted: 9/12/2005 12:36:19 PM EDT

[#47]

Quoted:
hey, when you went in the dulles museum, did you have to go through a metal detector or did they "wand" you or was it just a hand search?

i'm fixin' to go there next weekend and if it's just a hand search, i'll just keep my knife deep in my pocket.

They only search bags. The rest of the "searching" is just visual. But like I said, 5 guards missed seeing my knife at the door.

Posted: 9/12/2005 12:36:25 PM EDT

[#48]

Doh.

Posted: 9/12/2005 12:37:01 PM EDT

[#49]

My g/f got stopped going into the movies once. She had a bag with 1/2 a turkey sandwich that she had not been able to finish and she wanted to eat it later (yeah I bought her a turkey sandwich for dinner, I am a ladies' man). The guard told her she could not bring a bag into the movie theater for security purposes (I think it is really to keep people from bringing in their own treats since the movie theater makes so much money off their overpriced fatty snacks). She gave me the "F this guy, it's MY sandwich!" look. I really wanted to see the movie though so I made her throw it out and then we went in.

I was carrying a Glock 21, spare magazine, knife and surefire, but no turkey sandwich.

Posted: 9/12/2005 12:40:42 PM EDT

[#50]

Quoted:
My g/f got stopped going into the movies once. She had a bag with 1/2 a turkey sandwich that she had not been able to finish and she wanted to eat it later (yeah I bought her a turkey sandwich for dinner, I am a ladies' man). The guard told her she could not bring a bag into the movie theater for security purposes (I think it is really to keep people from bringing in their own treats since the movie theater makes so much money off their overpriced fatty snacks). She gave me the "F this guy, it's MY sandwich!" look. I really wanted to see the movie though so I made her throw it out and then we went in.

I was carrying a Glock 21, spare magazine, knife and surefire, but no turkey sandwich.

My g/f is Hypo-Glysimic(sp) really bad. She carries cheese sticks and protien bars in her purse and every couple hours eats one to balance her sugar. We were really worried they would say something about them when they searched her purse. They found them and the guy just said not to eat inside the museam. Which was good, cause they would have got an earful from both of us.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Guard almost confiscated my “weapon” at the the Air and Space Museum. (Page 1 of 2)

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