Passenger Finds Loaded Ammunition Clip on Southwest Flight
- Posted on November 23, 2010 at 3:56pm by
Scott Baker
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PHOENIX (AP) — A passenger aboard a Southwest Airlines flight found a fully loaded ammunition clip from a law enforcement officer’s service revolver during a flight Tuesday from Burbank, Calif., to Phoenix, an airline spokesman said.
The passenger handed the clip to the flight crew after finding it in flight, Southwest Airlines spokesman Paul Flaningan said.
The plane landed safely in Phoenix, and passengers on Flight 1297 were taken off and rescreened. The plane was also searched and no other weapons were found.
The passenger who found the clip was met and questioned by TSA and Phoenix police at Sky Harbor International Airport.
The clip apparently was dropped accidentally by a licensed law enforcement officer who declared he had the clip, Flaningan said. The law enforcement officer was on a previous flight.
It’s not clear how long the ammunition clip was on the plane or what caliber bullets the clip held.
Flaningan was unable to say if the officer was an air marshal or a police officer.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects spelling of spokesman’s name in last paragraph)
Editor’s note: A Blaze reader adds that technically a revolver takes a “speedloader” and not an “ammunition clip.” Add your comments below of course.
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Comments (122)
knowbody
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:29pmIt’s a magazine. Clips are actually stripper clips, ammo is bound in a metal strip, this strip is then fastened over a magazine and the ammo is pushed into the magazine.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 7:12pmDoes it make any difference if it is one of those “glossy magazines” or just a plain ‘magazine’? lol
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:05pmSheesh, everyone is jumping on the clip/revolver thing like it is something major. Hey, everyone is stuck on the speedloader theory, maybe it was not a revolver? Maybe it was a semi-auto? Just sayin…
What angers me is everyone was herded off the plane like so many cattle and rescreened. The poor dude who found the ammo was questioned (interrogated) and a big stinking deal was made over what?
Yep, the terrorists have won! Go TSA, go Napolitano, go Obama…Can I get to Costa Rica without flying?…
Report Post »EP46
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 7:10pmIf it was a “magazine” can they tell from the language who the passenger was? lol
Report Post »dkhartman
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 8:39pmWhen I was in the police academy they pounded it into us “clips are for you hair, ‘these’ are magazines..”
It’s a big deal because poor reporting gets out the wrong message. Yes this is ‘minor’ I guess but it‘s hard to believe the lame stream media when they can’t even get simple facts right… Anyways just a thought.
Report Post »Have-Gun-Will-Travel
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:04pmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedloader
Report Post »OifMedic
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:00pmWell, I just can’t believe a Government employee screwed up like that. I bet he’s one of those ****** people trying to make the President look bad.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:23pmGood one – ROFL – my laugh for the day – thanks!! http://maboulette.wordpress.com
Report Post »FedUP
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:00pmPerhaps the officer or air-cop did not here the pilot when he said “we are starting our decent, please put your chairs and trays in their upright and locked positions and secure all loose munitions from rolling about the cabin” -thank you.
Report Post »troyvar
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:52pmA speedloader for a revolver, is as a magazine is for an auto-loader, sort-of. The speedloader mimics the size and capacity of the cylinder. When re-loading the revolver, you insert the bullet tips into the open cylinder of the revolver and twist the lock knob on the speed loader, which drops the new cartridges into the cylinder.
Report Post »airforce6820
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:49pmUm, I don’t mean to cast doubt on this story, but REVOLVERS DON’T HAVE “CLIPS.” If anything, they have speed loaders. And not too many law enforcement officers carry revolvers anymore, anyway. I wonder what else they got wrong about this story.
Report Post »Big Mickey
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:48pmI just love journalists — they speak knowledgeably about things of which they have no knowledge.
A clip is a device used to load a magazine.
A magazine is a removable or built-into-the-gun item that holds bullets.
A revolver does not use a magazine.
An autoloading pistol (often referred to as a semi-automatic) uses magazines.
Air Marshals carry SIG Sauer Model P238 pistols that use magazines.
Currently, and generally, law enforcement officers, other than air marshals cannot carry concealed weapons on airline flights.
All of this information can be conveniently googled by any journalist. Since they don’t do it, I guess the responsibility to do so falls to the reader.
The lame stream media gets worse with every story.
Report Post »JRINOHIO
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 11:27pmYou almost nailed it Mickey. Air Marshals are actually issued the Sig Sauer P229 in .357 Sig caliber; a semiauto pistol that as you correctly point out uses a removable magazine. The P238 is the company’s latest offering in .380 ACP. But since you seem generally knowledgable, you get a pass. While the clip/magazine/speedloader debate is largely irrelevant to the story, accuracy in journalism is important, and The Blaze is not exempt. However, regardless of the importance of the debate, I’m told that while I have the right to remain silent, I rarely have the ability. So here is my 2 cent theory. I think the errant term is not “clip” but “service revolver”. A magazine is often referred to (yes incorrectly) as a “clip”. But if the information about the caliber was released as “.357″ the natural conclusion (yes by many knowledgable folks, too) would be to assume a .357 Magnum revolver. The .357 Sig in use by the Air Marshals is an autopistol round and is completely different. It would be stored in a magazine (ugh…“clip”) and that would be accurate. The .357 Magnum is a household name and most naturally associated with revolvers. It’s not a far stretch to think that given the broad caliber description “.357″, that most people would think revolver. And that is probably what the press ran with. Not right, just reality. As someone else stated, at least they didn’t refer to it as an assault waepon/RPG/thermonuclear device.
Report Post »rtanaconda
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:28amAny Federal LEO, not just FAMs, can carry concealed weapons on an airplane. They are in essence Air Marshals when traveling by air. The magazine was probably accidentally dropped by a Federal Leo on duty travel. I would guess that the magazine was loaded with .40 rounds since most Feds have Glock pistols of the .40 variety. Since it was a local domestic flight, it was probably not a FAM who dropped the mag. P.S. Most FAMs would deny they are associated with TSA.
Report Post »ick
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:47pmFirst of all, what firearms moron proof-reads these press releases? It almost certainly was not a “clip”, did the officer have an M1 Garand rifle as his sidearm? NO? Then it is not a clip.
Secondly, if it is a REVOLVER… which I doubt…. then it is called a speed loader. If it is a semi-automatic (likely) these are called MAGAZINES, not clips.
Thirdly, I expected more from “The Blaze” than to use the same old tired uninformed language the rest of the media uses. Clip is about the most immature slang firearm term used by what is clearly an uninformed media. I didn’t think “The Blaze” was in that category, but now I wonder.
Actually I should probably be happy; the articles don’t call a magazine found on a plane an “assault rifle”… so I guess you can count that as “accurate reporting”.
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:47pmA. There’s no such thing as a “clip.” It’s a magazine.
B. Whoever the law enforcement agent was that lost his rounds needs to be fired, immediately.
Report Post »THE AUDACITY OF NO
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:03pmYou are correct. “Clip” is a slang term made popular by 1980s movies and cop shows. And it certainly doesn’t pertain to revolvers.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 7:24pmShall they ‘fire’ him from a pistol or a revolver ?? lol
Report Post »proliance
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:03pmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_clip
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 4:26pmHuh. I guess I missed the words “service revolver” in the story. I assumed it was a 9mm service pistol rather than a revolver.
In the case of a revolver, yes, the moon clip is an actual tool in real life. Guess I‘m so used to the semi’s that I assumed the weapon in question was one as well. :-P
I stand by my call for his firing. Losing your rounds is about the worst thing one can do if you’re in law enforcement or the military. That’s a big, BIG no-no.
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:45pmIf I had found it, I would have freaked, thinking someone on that plane was gonna take us down!
Report Post »akim
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:40pmTSA, ITS NOT GOING TO WORK, WE KNOW YOU PLANTED THE BULLETS.
This is just one of the hoaxes that TSA is using to panic Americans into accepting tyranny. I do not beleive there was a Christmas plane bomber last year, I do not believe there ever was a underware bomber either. I think all of these incidents are very timely and are created by TSA. TSA has turned into that Domestic Military Force, mor powerful than the US Military that Obama promised us.
Report Post »on.second.thought
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:10pmIt just proves that no matter what security measures are taken…there will always be mistakes. The plane could be loaded with explosives, but if no one on the plane intends to detonate them… then there is NO THREAT. The people are the threat not the “items”. Can anyone one say “box knives”? Anything can become a weapon in the wrong hands. TSA needs to look at the PEOPLE not the STUFF.
Report Post »New-American-Saviors
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:39pmYour Tax dollar SECURITY at work…and don’t tell me Accidents happen. I didn’t know the gun was loaded etc. Let’s make certain this individual really “Lost” the clip and it wasn’t Placed there for someone else.You know what I mean. Clips will fall out of a holster but if you can’t secure your weapon,get a job that doesn’t require one. No forgiveness or Understanding after all the regs we go through !
Report Post »on.second.thought
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:34pmIn October of this year, I went through TSA with a carry-on that had several containers of lotion, shampoo and such – all over the limit. Forgetting that I had packed those items in my larger bag, I emptied my purse of ALL liquids and creams – like a good citizen. The carry-on bag went through TSA without a hitch. It wasn’t until I retrieved my belongings from the conveyor belt on the other side, that I realized what had just occurred. I calmly collected my stuff, smiled at the security agents and headed nervously to my gate – all the while BAFFLED at the inconsistencies of our “National Security”.
Report Post »john seven eighteen
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:40pmThat sounds about right. Kinda like being able to board any train to anywhere with no security check but damned if you can get on a plane!!
BTW, you definitely get the award for best profile picture!!!
Report Post »BlueStrat
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:57amHeh, an acquaintance of mine beat that one, though I know this isn’t a competition.
I picked him up from the airport a few days ago (he’s visiting family for the holidays here in town). When I greeted him upon his exiting the gate area, he was nervous and nearly bum-rushed us out of the terminal, shushing me when I started to ask him “what’s the hurry?”. I was perplexed and a little worried myself.
Well, he finally explained once we’d gotten on the road and left airport property. It turned out that he was nervous because while in flight, he discovered on the last leg that he had forgotten a loaded S&W .380 auto and two full magazines in the interior pouch of his carry-on bag that he’d forgotten about (he used that bag to transport his pistols to the local range back at his home normally). He’d gone through both Atlanta and Reagan Intl.
A State Trooper passed us on the highway on the way back, and he turned white as a sheet until the trooper left our sight, LOL!
This TSA nonsense is nothing but pure security theater intentionally designed to anger the public in order to further their agendas of unionizing the TSA, encroach further on individual liberty, and foster distrust and anger towards the government with the goal of inciting some incident they can use as an excuse to crack down dramatically on our freedom and liberties.
I have no sympathy whatsoever for TSOs at airports. “My boss told me to do it.” wasn’t an excuse for shady Wall St. dealings, wasn’t an excuse for WW2 Jewish concentration camp guards, and it sure as h*** is no excuse for a free citizen of the USA that can refuse and walk off the job without being shot or jailed.
Report Post »FreedomIQ
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:34pmThis is yet another reason not to trust a law enforcement badger. They’re incompetent, selfish, and greedy for more law business. I’m sure there might be a few good ones, but it doesn’t matter. Law Enforcement is the first line of offense for those choosing to trample on the Constitution.
Report Post »akim
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:43pmIn Germany there were some good hardworking SS troopers who did not like having to strip search Jewish women and children too, but they did it anyway. TSA is Americas SS.
Report Post »FreedomIQ
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 6:59pmGot that right! American’s SS the TSA is.
Report Post »chrisser
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:33pmDoesn’t a “clip” refer to the magazine of an automatic pistol?
The article states the clip was for a revolver…
Report Post »akim
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:47pmNotice how TSA leaves out the details like: where, caliber, type and how many. I do not beleive TSA, TSA is creating hoaxes to panic people. TSA wants us to see a terrorist in every shadow and behind every tree. If Homeland is so concerned about securiety, why not check out the Pee-Pees on the illegal aliens coming across the boarder.
Report Post »HellHorse
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:59pmNo, A clip and magazine are totally different objects.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 7:09pmDoes the magazine have pictures ???
Report Post »chrisser
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:32pmWouldn’t a “clip” be used in an automatic pistol, not a revolver, or is that just semantics?
Report Post »stopprintn
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 7:20pmNo that would be a SEMI-AUTO PISTOL
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:30pmWe should all have guns on planes. The only requirement should be glaser safety rounds. The air marshalls have .357 JHP rounds, so they’ll still have an advantage. Everyone’s happy.
Report Post »eteme
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:28pmStory is missing some pieces here….A CNN Reporter just so happened to be on this flight…and the officer just so happen to let it go to the floor right in front of him, talk about luck of a scoop of a pointless story on the wire…strike up the band of glass makers! anda one anda two…
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 6:44pmNo kidding, I don’t leave loose ammo rolling around in my jeep much take it on a plane and let it roll around.
Report Post »12thArticle
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:26pmProbably belonged to a TSA air marshal. Doh!!!
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:22pmAir Marshall penialized fifteen yards for tossing a clip, repeat pat down.
Report Post »El Paco
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:32pmComment of the day.
Report Post »gregmerleforcongress
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:21pmIf it is from an officers “revolver”, it wouldn’t have a “clip”. Just sayin’.
Report Post »dkhartman
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:25pmOk yeah that’s pretty much what I was thinking… Need to correct a little more than the authors ‘spelling’ here.
Report Post »paleoconservatarian
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:31pmAP article.
Report Post »Lantern
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:34pmThat’s what I was thinking. Revolver? Clip?
Report Post »How do you just casually lose a clip as if it were a comb or something?
I flew this past summer and I made sure I had every pocket zipped or snapped.
Chialms
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:38pmYep, that’s the first thought to cross my mind. Poor reporting.
Report Post »troyvar
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:40pmProbably a speed loader, have a couple for each of my S&W’s.
Report Post »countryboy42
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:44pmPerhaps is was a speed loader? Can’t expect the MSM to know the difference.
Report Post »Keep your powder dry.
CaptGregg
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:52pmThat was my thought as well. Was also thinking, what’s the big deal about this? What are the chances of someone finding the lost six rounds and then using them to bring down a plane? I’d say about the same as the same person winning the lottery 6 weeks in a row.
Report Post »proliance
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:02pmC’mon guys, revolvers used clips, not magazines. If you were taught otherwise, you were taught wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_clip
Report Post »WoodChuck
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:18pmDoes “passengers on Flight 1297 were taken off and rescreened” mean they got a second scan or pat down for free?
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:36pm….and a cavity search….and the bad guys laugh and laugh.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:15pmClips don’t kill people, people do.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 6:15pm…and if everyone on the plane was armed the terrorists would not stand a chance. Disarming us is the bad guys best chance for victory.
Report Post »showmerancher
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 7:43pmTO: untameable-kate
Almost everyone on a plane IS armed (lethally), they just don’t know it. I started out explaining a bit more, but erased it. It just isn’t a good idea. Obviously there are two sides to that coin.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 7:57pmSHOWME you are absolutely right, I’ll be darned if anyone could force me at box cutter point to lie down so he could kill me and my child. We have been conditioned to believe that we should lie down and submit until someone in authority gives us ‘permission tho act. We must not allow all of our survival instincts to be trampled by the pacifists among us. Thank you for your reply, everyone should be reminded of that so 9-11, or anything like it, NEVER happens again.
Report Post »Havok
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 9:11amso was it a clip or a magazine?
Report Post »Shoddy reporting.
temple62
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:14pmAnd once again we “angry Americans” have proof of how the Obama Administration continues to miss the mark and fall short of the security goal for air travelers. American have failed to see the underlying motive, this agency is “make work group” simply going through the motions so their neighbors won’t be too puzzled that they indeed are able to draw a government paycheck. They have not intelligence, they have no qualifications, they simple breathe air, take up airport space and cannot under any circumstances justify their existence. And by the way the greeters job at Wal-mart was already taken when they applied!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:34pmOnce again,
Report Post »its an airline passenger who saves the day
Konservative PUNK
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:41pmService ‘Revolvers’ don’t have clips, they have cylinders. ‘Pistols’ have clips.
Report Post »pajamash
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:42pmTemple, I was a security agent years back prior to TSA. Sure, like every company, you have some slough offs but the great majority are hard working people who take there job serious and are doing everything they can to keep us safe. You can’t make such a broad statement and demonise the worker for the procedures put in place. I like the fact that Glenn doesn’t do this with TSA or union members. It is not the workers that pose the biggest problem. It is those above them.
Zoe
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:49pmI don’t know, maybe they thought that of a speedloader?
Report Post »HellHorse
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:56pmActually Konservative PUNK,
Report Post »You are mistaken. Semi Auto/Auto Pistols and rifles have magazines. A clip is usually a thin piece of metal or plastic that holds several rounds together making it easier to load the magazine. A revolver clip will hold the rounds in a circle making them easy to speed load into the cylinder.
Dustyluv
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 4:59pmMusta been in someone’s “cavity”. Time to put the blue gloves to deeper use…
Report Post »Dirty Harry
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:01pmNo, pistols have magazines, not clips.
Report Post »moonpeace
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:14pmHey Punk, whether it was called a revolver or pistol completely misses the point. Given a clip of ammunition, it doesn’t take much effort to turn it into something much more powerful…something that doesn’t need a gun to be exploded.
Report Post »sawman
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:20pmThe terrorists have truly succeeded at what they started. Here we are, all in a dither over it all. That is of course the main goal of a terrorist. To unhinge a society, and instill a terror in the folks. While we are all going willy nilly over the airline situation, the terrorists are quite probably going to go after our food and water sources, and maybe even some skullduggery on our inland waterways. I for one am pretty concerned when I see a boat on the river full of “Arab looking” young men. I’ve seen it for the past couple of summers.
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 5:32pmBut they can unionize and pay dues.
Report Post »Waggedy Wabbit
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 6:24pmHEY MOONPEACE—explain that one to me!!!!!
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 7:25pmprobably from a TSA Marshall
Report Post »Sam I am
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 7:29pmIt’s a magazine, not a “clip”. Can we get this straight?
Report Post »proliance
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 8:59pmFor auto-loading weapons clips feed magazines, magazines feed the chamber. In the case of a revolver, a clip or half-moon clip can be used to hold the rounds and the entire assembly is dropped into the cylinder. Speedloaders can be considered to be clips but are usually just called speedloaders.
Report Post »OneFunR6
Posted on November 23, 2010 at 9:09pm“Are we at last brought to such a humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our own defense? Where is the difference between having our arms under our own possession and under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?”
Patrick Henry
Report Post »flintandsteel
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 12:57amI am quite sure that this “clip” was really a magazine. Clips are used to align cartridges for rapid insertion into a magazine, usually rifle caliber. Obvious proof that the Second Amendment duties required of each citizen have been relegated to the dusty shelves of history.
Americans need to WAKE UP soon, or the dream of America will be lost forever. Just another forgotten tome on the next dusty shelf.
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