The LA Times is reporting that a loaded handgun fell out of a duffel bag as that bag was being loaded into an airplane at LAX airport. Granted, this gun was not on board in the passenger compartment of the plane, but let's take this a step at a time, shall we?

• The weapon was loaded. This was completely inappropriate on the part of the gun owner. A weapon should never be transported or stored loaded. This guy needs a smack up side the head.
• There are procedures in place for travelling with a weapon. This guy didn't follow them. He needs another smack upside the head.
• It should not be taken for granted that the weapon would not go off. It was in a duffel bag. Duffel bags are soft. As it gets jostled around in there, there are numerous other things that it might come in contact with that could potentially set it off. Another smack upside the head.
• If it went off, who knows where the bullet would have gone? Hit a passenger? Depressurize the plane? Punch a hole in the fuel tank? Who knows? Smack!
• The TSA says they screened the bag for explosives. Between the gun powder present in the bullets (an explosive), and the presense of gunshot residue (GSR - assuming, that is, that this gun had ever been fired), something should have shown up.
• Lastly, the TSA has their heads too far up their bureaucratic backsides to be able to figure this one out. Stop screening us for stupid things, and do something useful.

Now, these days, I don't fly if I can possibly avoid it, but I know that there are people who do when they can. We should be taking reasonable measures to ensure their safety. The measures we currently take are invasive and ineffective. What will it take to change this? Do we need an "Occupy LAX" movement?