If you have ever flown on anairplane , you are well aware of the convoluted rule bear on prohibited items . It ’s easy to get confused . But who in their right creative thinker would seek to board a aeroplane with an AK-47 or a 2 - foot matchet ?
A set of citizenry , as it turns out . Every day citizenry endeavor to get on airplanes with weapons . From 2002 to 2005 , U.S.airport securityconfiscated an norm of 14,000 potential weapons casual [ author : Davidson ] .
So what happens when you and your prized Swiss Army tongue are separated at theairport ? And what is the lot of the other zillion of weapon seized each yr ?
First , a disavowal : land vary widely on their aerodrome security policies , make it gruelling to generalise about the fate of you and your tongue . This clause deals primarily with weapon nix onboard U.S. and European flights . Even in the U.S. and Europe , though , the picky airport and the security lane may determine what happens to your treasured shaft .
While especially dangerous weapon system , such as load up , unlicensedguns , usually are keep as evidence in prosecutions or destroy , your knife could be return to you or held at the airport giving shop for you to nibble up after . Otherwise , it could be auctioneer oneBay , sold at a state surplus supply store or donated to a local Boy Scout troop .
On certainairlines , some item that are n’t leave as carry - ons are permitted in checkedbaggageif passenger declare them . If you forget to announce said weapon system , the U.S. Transportation Security Administration ( TSA ) may take pity on you and let the artillery through . However if the aerodrome screener is unwilling to look out over your misunderstanding , you ’ll in all likelihood never see your arm again . It ’s up to the employee ’s discretion .
If you and your knife are n’t reunite , it ’s likely to be funneled to one of the state surplusage storage warehouse scattered across the nation that accept artillery " voluntarily abandoned to the TSA " [ source : CBS ] . Once there , items are auctioneer to the world in a retail - like store at the storage warehouse or through an online auction bridge website like eBay .
It turns out that collecting confiscated items from airports and reselling them is a profitable business . Find out which state ’s auction bridge have earned it the envious title of an eBay " PowerSeller " on the next page .
Become a millionaire! Sell confiscated weapons on eBay!
So , you were flying out of Kennedy InternationalAirportin New York and your trustworthy Swiss Army knife was tossed in the corner beside the cover surface area , along with all the others . Where does it go next ?
Within a curt amount of time , you probably will see your knife drawing bid online because Kennedy ’s items get institutionalize to aneBay"PowerSeller " by the name of " pastatesurplus " in Harrisburg , Penn . harmonise to eBay ’s Web internet site , " PowerSellers grade among the most successful vendor in terms of sale and client satisfaction . "
The Pennsylvania storage warehouse , escape by the state government ’s Department of General Services , garner confiscated token from 12 unlike airports in five states and deal them on eBay [ informant : CBS ] . Since it started using eBay in 2004 , the storage warehouse has made one C of thousands of dollars . In its first year using the on-line auction site , the item bring in $ 120,000 to Pennsylvania province ’s general fund [ reservoir : Fox ] .
The Harrisburg warehouse , which also ends up with more innocent objects like bowling lump and sombrero , has even lead off creatively box the detail in bundle project to encourage sales . An all - purpose Leatherman tool , a hunting knife , a flashlight and a roach were marketed as a " hunt - season kit , " whilehockeysticks , pucks and a goaltender ’s masque were promoted during the field hockey playoffs .
In plus to Pennsylvania , several other states enter in the reselling of weapon system . Kentucky pile up from eight airport , New Hampshire from four , Alabama from 14 , Texas from seven and Illinois from up to six [ source : Eng ] . Georgia , Oregon , California , Washington and North Carolina and South Carolina also assume items [ source : Eng , Kalil ] .
Airports in country whose warehouse do n’t swallow airport goody either send their items to other storage warehouse or destroy them . They are miss out though . While the nation listed here may not be PowerSellers , they do a brisk business . New Hampshire for instance made $ 26,000 in one year , Illinois $ 33,000 and California $ 62,000 [ source : AP , Kalil , Milwaukee ] .
Some of the arm , sometimes more accurately called tools , are offered to government way or non - profit groups before selling them to the public . Both Kentucky and Washington , for exemplar , let constabulary and fervidness department sift through the putz first . Such public protection agencies often find out utilitarian items like knife , cock and stun guns that would cost much more retail . California , meanwhile , donated hundreds of bottles of Madagascar pepper spray to an abused women ’s mathematical group , while Washington donated Swiss Army knives to Boy Scouts and fingernail clippers and files to dispossessed shelters .
If you ’re curious about the other interesting items that TSA screeners collect at airports that may cease up at a warehouse near you , keep an eye on the link on the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .
