Airports and plastic knives

I should be more clear. The story does not actually mention "plastic knives". I just wonder if maybe that was part of the reasoning.

Richard
 
It's reasonable to assume that if this machine can identify and image packages of drugs (as the article claims it can) that it could also pick up some denser non-metalic knives. I'd think that ceramic knives would certainly show up.

I used to work repairing and maintaining x-ray equipment including CT scanners. To check the machines, we had a "target", but the target had to be held off of the table in the same position, more or less, that a patient's internal organs would be. So, the target was built into a frame made out of what looked like plexiglass to me. The scann er could not see the plexiglass at all. It would clearly see the screws that held the assembly together, and, of course, the target, but not the frame. This is, of course, a very powerful, very sophisticated, and very expensive machine. If it can't see that plastic, then any machine they're going to let the average airport screener waltz passengers casually through and that an airport is going to afford, won't be able to either.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
 
You guys missed the point here, they are using these as substitutes for physical searches, something that is going to find even the best non metallic knife anyway. The whole point of concealment is KEEPING whatever CONCEALED, as in out of sight, as in giving them no reason to hassle you....
Just an observation.

Joe

[This message has been edited by SycoticSamurai (edited 31 December 1999).]
 
Well, somebody is missing the point ... when they had to do frisks and strip searches to find nonmetallic knives they had a problem; they could only get away with searching people of certain races. Now they can X-ray everybody -- whoopee!

Mad Dog Mclung has posted in the past that not only do ceramic knives show up on X-rays, so do his Frequent Flyers, made of G-10 or something similar.

There is talk about devices in the works that would allow police cars to cruise slowly along the street and search everybody on the sidewalk.

Maybe everybody should go over to Practical Tactical and search out my posts on "tactical pen."



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-Cougar Allen :{)
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This post is not merely the author's opinions; it is the trrrrrruth. This post is intended to cause dissension and unrest and upset people, and ultimately drive them mad. Please do not misinterpret my intentions in posting this.
 
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