Criminals in Flight
From: "Cox, William R"
<[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 18:04:29 -0800
To: "'[email protected]'"
Subject: Being treated like a criminal when checking a weapon through your baggage
on a flight
I have found that counter personnel
at the airlines don't receive any training on checking weapons through in baggage.
I find this unimaginable considering the risk. I also find being treated like
a criminal at the counter from someone who has never even handled a weapon to
be insulting. Here is a copy of letter I sent to Southwest Airlines in regards
to the ineptness of the counter personnel in regards to checking weapons through
in your baggage.
Thanks,
W. Cox
Scottsdale, Arizona
W. Cox
Scottsdale, Arizona 85250
January 15, 2002
Southwest Airlines
Customer Relations
P.O. Box 36647 - 1CR
Dallas, Texas 75235-1647
Dear Sir or Madam:
Over the Holidays I made several hunting trips
that involved checking weapons through the check in counter. I was alarmed at
the inadequate handling by the counter personnel. Of the three times I checked
a weapon through only one counter agent knew the proper procedures as defined
by the FAA and handled the procedure professionally making no disparaging comments
about "guns". The two times the weapons check in task was handled
incorrectly, the counter agents acted as though I was a criminal and stated
they didn't know anything about how to check in a firearm or how to verify the
weapon was unloaded as per FAA regulations. I pointedly asked if they had received
any training on the proper way to check weapons through and both said no.
I find it unimaginable that SWA doesn't take
a couple of hours in training to cover this important procedure. You could very
easily have a local police department come in and provide a hands on class so
they would know how to verify that various weapons are safe to stow. It would
also help them react more professionally when they have a customer that needs
this service. As it stands now I don't feel assured that the weapons being checked
through are being checked correctly.
I hope SWA can find a few hours to provide this
invaluable training to its employees.
Sincerely,
William R. Cox
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