Student arrested bringing stun gun on plane

One of several combination flashlight/stun guns on the market is the Zap Light, which not only produces light with 6 ultra-bright LED bulbs, but also a 1-million-volt charge. / P.S. Products

NEW YORK — Authorities said a college student from China was arrested trying to carry a combination stun gun and flashlight onto a plane in New York City.

Sihui "Hannah" Xie said by phone Sunday that she pleaded not guilty and believes her weapons-possession case is on track to be resolved with a fine. Court records were not immediately available.

The Transportation Security Administration said a checkpoint screener spotted the item in Xie's carry-on luggage as she headed for an Orlando, Florida-bound flight at Kennedy Airport.

The TSA said the device initially just appeared to be a flashlight, but the screener looked more closely and saw it also was a stun gun.

Xie was then arrested. She's a student at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.

[venusvegasvada]

I'm glad to see students come from China to the US for their education. Let them experience what freedom is like so they can take it home and motivate change. I think this is a very powerful way to push China towards Democracy.

As far as taking the stun gun on the plane, rules are rules and that was a serious oversight. She should have put it in her checked baggage.

I agree with nevwster1, arresting her was a bit extreme. They should have just confiscated it. I see no reason why they couldn't have put it in the cargo pit and returned it to her at her destination.

This same kind of thing happens to a lot of people. They forget things like a Leatherman tool or nail clippers or something in a carry on back pack that you can't carry on the plane. The TSA and security has confiscated thousands of things like this and instead of offering a way of getting these items into the cargo hold (as checked items with a ownership tag on them) they just take them. At the least they could offer a way of returning the property to forgetful people (like a mailer bag you can send home).

Sounds a little harsh to me.

[netjunkie1]

I think the TSA is paranoid.
I further think that there should be a post office near the checkpoint to offer alternative transportation of the item in question so the passenger doesn't lose it and the bin they use gets less use.