Re: Southwest pilot\'s gun goes missing...
Another contributing problem to this situation is the lack of communication with the ground crews. We just learned about the "checking the gun in the bag while deadheading" rule a couple of months ago. If the rampers don't know, of COURSE it will wind up on the baggage carousel. The way we found out was a United FFDO came down on the ramp to get his bag from the cargo hold. He didn't have an ID, and he was trying to take a bag. Therefore, he about got jumped by about four ramp agents (I was inside the cargo hold, so I just got to watch). After being detained by a ramp supervisor for a while until the security forces came, this guy was Not Happy. TSA's response was, "Oh yeah. Didn't anyone tell you? They have to check the gun and claim it themselves from the cargo hold."
TSA needs a LOT of work in public relations and communications, and I fear it's only going to get worse....