The “Taking People’s Luggage At The Airport Prank” Went Horribly Wrong

Yes, that's an actual prank. To try to take other's luggage at the airport.

Flying is one of the more stressful things to do. Get to the airport. get through security. Get that connecting flight. And then, get to baggage claim and hope your bag showed up. It's all very stressful. And probably the last place you want to have someone pulling a prank on you. Yet, it's a thing. To torment people for followers and clicks. This page has 838,000 followers who enjoy watching Salim prank people. This video has been viewed over a million times. There's a thong prank at the beginning, just skip past it if you want to see the airport stuff.

So it's not too big of a stretch to think that someone escalates the confrontation. And that's what happened here. It kind of looks like the Austin airport, but I'm not completely sure. Also, I don't know if it's the same prankster, it could be a copycat trying to get clicks.

I'm actually surprised this doesn't happen more often with these You Tube pranksters. Watch the video again and you'll see the prankster is the first to make it a physical altercation when he grabs the man's shirt. This video will likely pop up in a civil suit.

I'm just trying to get my luggage and go home.

You are NOT allowed to bring a gun onto a plane in your carry on bag.  Even if you have a concealed carry permit. You can bring a gun on a plane if it is unloaded and packed in a locked, hard-sided case and the bag is checked. Despite that very clear rule, many people continue to bring guns in their carry-ons. And Florida airports are seeing a lot of them.

The TSA announced in a press release " Nationwide, TSA officers stopped 6,542 firearms at checkpoints at 262 different airports, surpassing the previous record of 5,972 firearms caught at checkpoints last year. The majority of those firearms (88%) were loaded. " On average, that's one gun for every 116,394 travelers screened nationwide. But of course, some airports see more than others.

Last week we noted, Four of the Top Five Worst Airports in the U.S. Are In Florida. At least Florida is slightly better on this list. However, neither of these lists compare to what went down in Atlanta this week:

The Tampa Bay Times states, "In Florida, TSA officers confiscated a record 854 guns in 2022. That’s a 28% increase from the previous record in 2021." And it's not a small deal, either. I'm sure for many of these it was a mistake. But that mistake can involve criminal charges and a fine of up to nearly $15,000.  - Careful if you click on the Tampa Bay Times link, you only get three free articles before they start charging you.

So how does Florida rank on people trying to brings guns onto planes? Not as bad as you'd think. Sure, even one is too many, but take a look at what is going on in Atlanta. Below is the ranking, airport, and guns caught by TSA at checkpoints in 2022.

That beats Tampa's previous record of 105 in 2021.

This must be why the new Grand Theft Auto is based around the Miami area.

Texas also has 3 airports on this list. Before you think this is mostly a Florida and Texas problem - read on.

True story - I wore an Illuminati t-shirt at this airport hoping I'd be escorted into a secret meeting room. This was back around 2013 when Colorado just legalized recreational marijuana so it's possible I was high as eggs when I tried it. The Denver Airport has more conspiracy theories than guns. So many that they had to issue a statement.

There's Orlando. In the Four of the Top Five Worst Airports in the U.S. Are In Florida, Orlando was voted number one. 162 guns a year is just over 3 a week.

196 guns. That's nothing compared to what they find in San Antonio.

Good ol' boys and their guns?

More Texas. What's the difference between an Intercontinental and International Airport?

Texas again. I get it, you have guns. But you don't need it on the plane.

Coming in first and not even close is Atlanta. If you're working TSA in Atlanta expect at least a gun a day.  You see how I put that video from Atlanta earlier in the story? That's called foreshadowing. I'm good at this. I actually wrote a series that starts off with a 2 hour movie and then goes into 8 -  30 minute shows. It's about old people doing crazy stuff at nursing homes because they're bored. You listening Netflix? Call me.