AFCK and the INS

W

Wunderbar

Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
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A few years back in the late 90's, my wife (resident alien) had to go to the local INS office to take care of some paperwork. When we entered the waiting area, we went thru a metal detector. It buzzed as I passed thru and I pulled out my Benchmade Mini AFCK. I told the overzealous armed security guard that I would put the knife in my car and that I'd be right back. He told me to hand over the knife to him. I said no. Again he asked for the knife, this time in a louder more stern voice. I told him no again and that if he didn't want me in the building that I would wait outside. For a third time he said, " Sir, The knife." I ignored him and walked out of the office into the parking lot. He soon followed me and I could hear him calling for back-up on his radio. In the parking lot he cut in front of me and said, "Sir, hand over the knife. It's a felony to carry a knife into a federal building." I said OK and told him to get out of my way. This time my little "porky" security guard friend told me that I was going to have to be detained. I then told him that he was going to have to have his A** kicked. Suddenly a second guard came out of the building and pulled Barney Fife aside. He then sent him back into the building. The second guard apologized and told me to have a nice day. In this time my wife finished her business and we were on our way.

Moral
of the story...Life is short. Don't be stepped on.:)
 
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I'm glad it worked out for you. The first officer should have been more understanding. However, I think you learned the wrong lesson. This was a situation that could have gone south on you really fast.

The second officer could have been caught up in the macho of the moment and you'd have found yourself subdued forcibly by however many officers it took. Then you'd get the wonderful opportunity to explain to a judge why you were sneaking a concealed Advanced Fighting and Combat Knife into a secure area, refusing a lawful order, fleeing and violently resisting arrest.

I'm not saying you were wrong, just that this is the kind of situation that can get out of hand. A better approach may have been to politely ask to speak to the first officer's supervisor and just explain the situation.

Personally, I'd never attempt to take a knife though a metal detector because I know that of all the possible outcomes, most of them will be bad.
 
Twindog, I sort of agree that a little discretion is a good thing, but this was back in the 90s before we were flooded with petty meaningless regulations on security everywhere we go. I bet my own attitude would have been "huh? what are you talking about?"

The first time I got caught up in that was jury duty in New York City. I had no idea we were going through metal detectors till I got there, and the NYPD officer checking why I buzzed told me I could keep the keychain knife that day but to leave it home if I came back the next day. Stupid rule but reasonable and understanding guard.
 
I went into a courthouse to pay a ticket once with a cold steel mini pal still on my key-ring. I realized as soon as I went through the door and saw the metal detector That I hadnt thought to remove it so I called the deputy sheriff over and asked if he would kindly hold on to my truck keys while I handled my business.

He put them in a little bin for me and looking at the maybe inch long blade says to me "this thing is gonna get you in trouble". I couldnt help but wonder how?:confused: If that thing was bothering him the 226 in my truck wouldve made him s**t a brick. I think LEO's must get paranoid a bit in there line of work. Heck I probably would to. Anybody with a blade or gun is just a problem waiting to happen to them it seems.

Other than the mini life lesson remark, he was very courteous and understanding.

I wish the powers that be would focus less on the object, whatever it may be, and more on what the person who has the object is doing with it.

Glad your knife wasnt confiscated and everything turned out O.K. It certainly couldve went the other way!:D


P.S. I have no bad blood with Law Enforcement, hellva job those guys and gals gotta do. God bless em.
 
I had to go to the federal building in Little Rock in the late 90's. There were no metal detectors at the time other than at the entrance to the court rooms and the guard at the entrance was to busy reading the paper to do more than just look at you when you came in. While i was there several people came in with Buck 110 and similar knives, no problem.
 
The whole process becomes farcical when the exceptions are factored in. On jury duty, lawyers were led around the metal detectors, and didn't even have to open their briefcases.

The same procedure at City Hall (just down the street) had a councilman bringing his associate in past the detectors, which were just for mere citizens. The associate, once inside, drew a pistol and shot him. You can develop a lot of respect for the officers on duty when that sort of thing is allowed to develop.
 
Whitedog said:
License to steal.
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The current approved term is "confiscate". :D

Especially interesting concept when the guard in question isn't a sworn officer
and the offense is violating a business policy not a Federal or other law.
 
Twindog said:
I'm glad it worked out for you. The first officer should have been more understanding. However, I think you learned the wrong lesson. This was a situation that could have gone south on you really fast.

I didn't learn any lesson. I've all ready encountered many bullies in my life starting back from childhood and I know how handle them. It was all a matter of who controls the situation. If I had been alone the outcome might have been swifter and somewhat different.
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I once entered the Calhoun county courthouse with a knife. The guard simply put it in a lock box and gave me a check ticket. Got it back when I left. Of course, this was 1993.
Fast forward, I went in to the VA in Birmingham and did not know they had a policy against knives. No easy way to get back to my car. I went to the bathroom and took it out of my pocket and put in back pocket with wallet. My dad (a great guy) offered to carry it in case we were caught. He said they "they won't dare do shit to me" (he is retired Army and vietnam vet).

NO problems in the end.
 
Dizzy. You can carry weapons to defend the country but as a veteran you can't carry a small, personal tool.
We are heading into the garbage bin of history if we don't stop trashing our best traditions.
 
In 1987, I was taking a friend who had come to visit to his gate at the Oakland airport. I had on my person, an Al Mar something or other with a 3" blade, that was my EDC, back before that was a term. It was also always in my pocket whenever I flew. I'd check it with all my other metal personal items when boarding. The most attention it ever got was once when a female checker opened it up, and held the blade vertically against her fingers to ensure that it was 4" or less in length. It had a flat-ground drop point blade, and flat black, zytel scales vaguely of the same shape as a Buck 110. Nothing threatening about it at all.

So this time, as I'm walking into the gate with my friend, a short, portly, senior citizen checker with an oddly oversized head, looks at it and distastefully pushed it back at me saying "You're not getting in here with that! You got no business carrying a knife like that for any reason!". I was stymied, but knew I wasn't getting through the gate with it on me. So I turned on my flirt, smiled at the girl working the magazine stand, and got her to hold onto it for me until I left.

There are always going to be jackholes like this around. If your knife is confiscated, always demand, respectfully, a receipt.
 
Wunderbar said:
Twindog said:
I'm glad it worked out for you. The first officer should have been more understanding. However, I think you learned the wrong lesson. This was a situation that could have gone south on you really fast.

I didn't learn any lesson. I've all ready encountered many bullies in my life starting back from childhood and I know how handle them. It was all a matter of who controls the situation. If I had been alone the outcome might have been swifter and somewhat different.
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I'm not busting your chops. You were there. I wasn't. But from your post, it looks to me like the second officer controlled the situation. He's the one who determined if it was going to turn out well for you or bad.

You've learned something from your lifelong exposure to bullies. I'm a combat vet. I've never had much trouble with bullies. What I learned in my own experiences is that a big, tough, heavily-armed person can be taken down fast by a small, poorly armed person with a good plan.
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Wasn't it supposed to be Advanced Folding Camping Knife? I've seen some people call it by that name, at least. :)
 
I recall hearing that some civilian Security personel have the authority of a Deputy U.S.Marshall while on duty on Federal property . This gives them more than enuff power to spoil your whole day . This would also cover "pursuit" from , and " on or in relatiom to " type offences . Assault on a Federal officer is a pretty heavy number !

Chris
 
Frankki said:
Wasn't it supposed to be Advanced Folding Camping Knife? I've seen some people call it by that name, at least. :)
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Towards the end of its production life, Benchmade listed the AFCK as the Advanced Folding Camp/Camping (I can't remember which) Knife, but it started off as Advanced Folding Combat Knife.
 
you think you got it bad in the USA, here in BC we have "security" guards that cannot even speak basic english, let alone know any of the law. Then you have the "guards" that think its ok to carry bear spray and ASP batons and handcuffs, all which are HIGHLY ILLEGAL as per the laws and regulations governing security guards.

at least the guys you dealt with are able to speak English properly.
 
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