While gun replicas have been outlawed on planes since 2002, should that include miniature designs of pistols that are part of your handbag? This is the question that vexed a teenager who was stopped by TSA agents and told that her weaponized handbag was some sort of illegal security risk.

The teen, who had already carried the bag on board a plane without incident, was trying to fly back home from Virginia to Jacksonville, FL, when she was stopped by a TSA agent at the security checkpoint.

“She was like, ‘This is a federal offense because it’s in the shape of a gun,'” the teen recalls to WJXT-TV. “I’m like, ‘But it’s a design on a purse. How is it a federal offense?'”

The TSA eventually came to the conclusion that the hollow half-gun was not actually a real revolver but told the teen she would still need to check the bag.

It didn’t really matter by that point, as she had missed her flight. Southwest was able to get her on a plane to Orlando, which is at least in the correct state.

A TSA official tells WJXT that it’s not that uncommon for passengers to wear something that could be considered a gun replica, but the teen, using a little thing she calls “common sense,” thinks that’s ridiculous: “It’s a purse, not a weapon.”

Teen stopped at airport for design on purse [News4Jax.com]

Thanks to Jenna for the tip!

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