Les White
Less is more
2A Bourbon Hound 2024
2A Bourbon Hound OG
Charter Member
Life Member
Multi-Factor Enabled
This past weekend I took Jenny and her girls to DC to see the sights. I hadn't been since May of 2001, just before the WTC attacks and at all the Smithsonians you just opened the door and walked in.
Being that it was DC I knew trying to CC was a bad idea, but not wanting to be completely unarmed I carried a pocket knife.
We walked into the Air and Space museum and were greeted by lines, metal detectors, guys with wands, and a belt to an x-ray machine for bags.
Fark.
Not wanting to just give up my knife - it's my favorite - I figured I'd make them work for it. I put my phone and smokes in the tray to run thru the x-ray machine, but left the knife and wallet on my person. The wallet is also a money clip with a hefty magnet, but it's my wallet and the place was a zoo, leaving that out of eyesight wasn't going to happen. When I walked thru the metal detector I alerted as expected. What I didn't expect was seeing the guy with the wand playing grab-ass with another security guy and neither one noticed me or the alert on the metal detector. I just picked up my things off the conveyor and off we went.
The next day heading into Arlington, more metal detectors and x-ray machines. I honestly thought my knife was in my back pack this time and sent it thru on it's side hoping for the best as the blade profile would be harder to spot. I still had my wallet and smokes on my person. Walking thru the metal detectors I alerted again but this time the guard was paying attention. He asked what else I had in my pockets, I pulled out the smokes and lighter and he literally said "Oh, that's it, come on thru". I was in. The backpack didn't draw any additional attention. Then I found the knife still in my back pocket.
I'm guessing the sheer volume of tourists keeps their efforts to a minimum? Either way, their "security" is more or less a joke.
Being that it was DC I knew trying to CC was a bad idea, but not wanting to be completely unarmed I carried a pocket knife.
We walked into the Air and Space museum and were greeted by lines, metal detectors, guys with wands, and a belt to an x-ray machine for bags.
Fark.
Not wanting to just give up my knife - it's my favorite - I figured I'd make them work for it. I put my phone and smokes in the tray to run thru the x-ray machine, but left the knife and wallet on my person. The wallet is also a money clip with a hefty magnet, but it's my wallet and the place was a zoo, leaving that out of eyesight wasn't going to happen. When I walked thru the metal detector I alerted as expected. What I didn't expect was seeing the guy with the wand playing grab-ass with another security guy and neither one noticed me or the alert on the metal detector. I just picked up my things off the conveyor and off we went.
The next day heading into Arlington, more metal detectors and x-ray machines. I honestly thought my knife was in my back pack this time and sent it thru on it's side hoping for the best as the blade profile would be harder to spot. I still had my wallet and smokes on my person. Walking thru the metal detectors I alerted again but this time the guard was paying attention. He asked what else I had in my pockets, I pulled out the smokes and lighter and he literally said "Oh, that's it, come on thru". I was in. The backpack didn't draw any additional attention. Then I found the knife still in my back pocket.
I'm guessing the sheer volume of tourists keeps their efforts to a minimum? Either way, their "security" is more or less a joke.