Student arrested bringing stun gun on plane

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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.
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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.
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.