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What should happen to the TSA agent that violated professional rules on the screening of human remains?

Steverno~POTL~PWCM~JLA 2012/07/01 15:06:12
Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
The TSA agent was just doing her job because....
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A man carrying his grandfather’s ashes home from Florida’s Orlando airport is furious after a confrontation with a Transportation Security Administration ended with the deceased man’s ashes spilled on the airport floor.

John Gross was leaving Florida with the remains of his grandfather in a tightly sealed jar marked “Human Remains, ” ABC Indianapolis affiliate RTV6 reported.

“They opened up my bag, and I told them, ‘Please, be careful. These are my grandpa’s ashes,’” Gross told the station. “She picked up the jar. She opened it up.”

Gross said the TSA agent used her finger to sift through the ashes and accidentally spilled it. He said one-third to one-half of the ashes spilled and that the agent laughed as he tried to gather what he could from the floor.

“She didn’t apologize. She started laughing. I was on my hands and knees picking up bone fragments. I couldn’t pick up all, everything that was lost. I mean, there was a long line behind me.”

With regard to the transportation of human remains, the TSA web site reads, “Passengers are allowed to carry a crematory container as part of their carry-on luggage, but the container must pass through the X-ray machine.

Out of respect to the deceased and their family and friends, under no circumstances will an officer open the container even if the passenger requests this be done. Documentation from the funeral home is not sufficient to carry a crematory container through security and onto a plane without screening.”

The web site also states it may be possible to transport the remains as checked baggage, depending on the air carrier.

“I want an apology,” said Gross. “I want an apology from TSA. I want an apology from the lady who opened the jar and laughed at me. I want them to help me understand where they get off treating people like this.”

TSA did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.

UPDATE: 4:30 p.m. EDT

The TSA sent the following statement to ABC News:

“TSA recognizes the importance of screening human remains with utmost respect and dignity while remaining vigilant of our security mission to protect the traveling public. It is a TSA policy that under no circumstance should a container holding remains be opened. We have been unable to reach the family to learn more about their perspective on the incident, however, our initial review concluded that the circumstances as described in some reports are inconsistent with what we believe transpired.”

From: ABC news

Read More: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/06/ashe...

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Top Opinion

  • Walt 2012/07/01 15:16:19
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    Walt
    +14
    In a decent world, the TSA agent (along with thousands of other similar TSA agents) would be fired for incompetence and violating people's rights.

    Unfortunately, we're in a fascist liberal country now, so I doubt the offending agent will even get a reprimand put in their human resources folder.

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  • LOU 2012/07/07 10:21:20
    Other Thoughts!
    LOU
    Every time you go to the airport and wait in line to be searched you can thank a Republican! republican nazi
  • WhereIsAmerica? ~PWCM~JLA 2012/07/04 06:51:57
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    WhereIsAmerica? ~PWCM~JLA
    Abolish the TSA, they can't even admit it and apologize!
  • schjaz 2012/07/03 17:04:07
    Other Thoughts!
    schjaz
    +1
    Fired.
  • ★Calliope★ 2012/07/02 23:57:20
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    ★Calliope★
    +1
    Stupid people, power hungry.

    No bloody sense at all.
  • 4dc 2012/07/02 22:49:23
    Other Thoughts!
    4dc
    +3
    hopefully this idiot loses her job
  • ★Calliope★ 4dc 2012/07/03 00:00:14
    ★Calliope★
    +3
    I hope she doesn't reproduce.
  • 4dc ★Calliope★ 2012/07/03 23:26:48
    4dc
    +1
    that too
  • MarinerFH 2012/07/02 22:46:27
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    MarinerFH
    +3
    1st, TSA should be privatized just as in San Francisco.

    2nd, she should be fired and fined, at the very least.
  • ★Calliope★ MarinerFH 2012/07/03 00:00:00 (edited)
    ★Calliope★
    +2
    To laugh is really amazing. How horrible was that? She's lucky she wasn't punched.
  • MarinerFH ★Calliope★ 2012/07/03 00:05:02
    MarinerFH
    +2
    Hey, long time no see. Glad to hear from you good friend. God Bless.
  • ★Calliope★ MarinerFH 2012/07/03 00:09:07
    ★Calliope★
    +2
    Good to see you too. And thank you!

    It's so nice to be back with folks like you.
  • MarinerFH ★Calliope★ 2012/07/03 00:10:45
    MarinerFH
    +3
    God Bless You.
  • seadog6608PWCM 2012/07/02 21:22:40
  • ★Calliope★ seadog6... 2012/07/02 23:59:34
    ★Calliope★
    +2
    some folks are just beyond the norm. Way beyond.
  • Temlakos~POTL~PWCM~JLA~☆ 2012/07/02 15:09:21
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    Temlakos~POTL~PWCM~JLA~☆
    +3
    It's past "fire the fool." The whole agency has to go. Let the airlines and airports form their own Committee of Safety. I'm sure they could do a better job than this.
  • Patriot Unit 2012/07/02 03:19:54
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    Patriot Unit
    +3
    First of all, if this was the Real America. She would have been given a brand new hand held vacuum and would have been on her hands and knees retrieving every trace of the mans ashes, Then she would be fired along with her supervisor who failed to keep her informed of the rules, if she was ever. I am so disgusted will TSA, its leadership, and lack of professionalism, from the top down.
  • Rodney 2012/07/01 23:51:53
    Other Thoughts!
    Rodney
  • JohnT 2012/07/01 23:20:47
    Other Thoughts!
    JohnT
    Before I get angry about a agency I don't like in the first place let's get all the evidence in and than I can go ballistic.
  • Tennyson James 2012/07/01 23:16:01
    Other Thoughts!
    Tennyson James
    Why on earth was he carrying the remains of his beloved grandfather around in an empty jar with a label written in sharpie?! Why wans't it wrapped up and packed carefully in a carry on bag? Or even labeled with a legitimate label from a crematorium identifying its contents as human remains?
  • GUAPO~LMAO!~ 2012/07/01 22:59:08
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    GUAPO~LMAO!~
    +2
    This is why this job should be done by private companies and not the government.

    bad tsa
  • stormy rae 2012/07/01 22:47:52
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    stormy rae
    +3
    no shocked, mad the tsa gets paid to sexually assault citizens
  • Pug For Huck 2012/07/01 22:46:09
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    Pug For Huck
    +3
    Fired. On the spot.
  • sglmom 2012/07/01 20:18:22
    Other Thoughts!
    sglmom
    +3
    IF it was any business ..
    this person .. disrespecting the cremains of any human being ..
    would be .. FIRED .. (with cause)
    no unemployment, no benefits, no severance ..
    there would have been a formal apology to the grieving family member ..

    The TSA Agent started the disrespect by opening the container!
    (then laughed? THAT Was an especially cruel torment to the family too)

    Yet .. the TSA continues to deny their .. disrespect .. their antics ..
  • Gracie - Proud Conservative 2012/07/01 19:30:13
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    Gracie - Proud Conservative
    +5
    My husband worked as a TSA agent for a short time and he knew that you don't mess with cremated remains. They can put it through the machine to make sure there is nothing in it. How disrespectful and utterly hateful. They should be fired!
  • TheTailor 2012/07/01 19:18:39
    Other Thoughts!
    TheTailor
    +5
    Fire that bitch.
  • Ozzyboy 2012/07/01 18:05:03
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    Ozzyboy
    +5
    TSA fingers Grandpa and then laughs about it. There's no surprise there. Without a picture of her, I'm pretty sure we all got the picture. Dump the entire program because they are just perverts anyway. The only other reasonable response to laughing hyena TSA would be for the agent to replace grandpa's ashes with her own.
  • Muver Ozzyboy 2012/07/03 02:02:50
    Muver
    +1
    My guess is a phone or two captured the scene, I am waiting for one to show up on the cover of Time..
  • mal 2012/07/01 17:51:30
    Other Thoughts!
    mal
    +5
    obama's intimidators directed by another anti american,napolitano
  • Jackie G - Poker Playing Pa... 2012/07/01 17:37:42
    Other Thoughts!
    Jackie G - Poker Playing Patriot
    +6
    Fired - obviously does not belong in a position of authority
  • The Duke 2012/07/01 17:34:05
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    The Duke
    +5
    Shocked but not surprised.
  • ed 2012/07/01 17:03:58
    Other Thoughts!
    ed
    +5
    [sarcasm] she should get a promotion.
  • BUCCANEER~POTL~PWCM~JLA 2012/07/01 16:49:02 (edited)
    Another TSA outrage.I'm shocked!!!
    BUCCANEER~POTL~PWCM~JLA
    +9
    Sack the Bitch!! TSA funny

    Power mad cretins!!
  • Muver BUCCANE... 2012/07/03 02:01:43
    Muver
    +2
    OH, how true you comment...What a bunch of quivering little sheep we have become...
  • texasred 2012/07/01 16:46:51
    Other Thoughts!
    texasred
    +10
    Should be fired. Actually, they should privatize the TSA. The quality would immediately improve and it would end up costing taxpayers less.
  • Muver texasred 2012/07/03 01:59:57
    Muver
    +2
    Then the Gov. would be out of control...and they can't have that!!!
  • texasred Muver 2012/07/03 13:05:42
    texasred
    +2
    Yeah, I know. Once they have something in their grasp, it's almost impossible to pry it loose.
  • Muver texasred 2012/07/03 15:56:03
    Muver
    +1
    We have little power left, except elections, and impeachment...
  • texasred Muver 2012/07/03 16:41:43
    texasred
    +1
    We don't even have impeachment when the Dems control the Senate.
  • Muver texasred 2012/07/06 19:30:32
    Muver
    +1
    Still, I think they would have to listen to the voice of the millions...or be in fear of their jobs....which they should be anyway...I say, clean the closet and send them all to the Goodwill...:D
  • texasred Muver 2012/07/06 23:23:47
    texasred
    +1
    I agree... clean the closet, but don't send them to Goodwill... just put them in the trash pile and let them rot.

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