From: David Ross
I sure am hoping that sooner than later some sanity returns to the security screening.
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Woman arrested after attempting to bring boomerangs on plane
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By MATT SEDENSKY
Associated Press Writer
July 1, 2002, 5:53 PM EDT
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. -- A world-class competitive boomerang thrower faces a criminal charge after trying to bring boomerangs through a security checkpoint at Bradley International Airport.
Betsylew Ross Miale-Gix, 43, of Brier, Wash., was arrested Sunday after arguing with a security screener at the airport, state police said.
Miale-Gix said she was returning home from a boomerang tournament in Amherst, Mass. when she was stopped by a state trooper at the airport's security checkpoint.
The screener had noticed about 50 boomerangs inside Miale-Gix's carryon luggage at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday and told her the items would have to be checked, state police said.
Miale-Gix became irate, began cursing, and then grabbed her bags from the screener, state police said. She continued to curse and use obscenities as she left the screening area, state police said.
She was arrested on a breach of peace charge, and released after posting a $500 bond.
Miale-Gix admitted to becoming irate, but challenged the police description of her actions.
"I tried to help him understand that they were delicate and they were breakable," she told The Associated Press Monday.
An attorney, Miale-Gix is a three-time member of the United States Boomerang Team, and has been ranked among the top ten boomerang throwers in the world.
She currently serves as secretary of the U.S. Boomerang Association, and she formerly held the world record for Australian round, a top boomerang event.
The Transportation Security Administration prohibits sporting equipment such as pool cues, hockey sticks and ski poles in carryon luggage, but does not mention boomerangs. Any item deemed to present a threat may be prohibited from an aircraft cabin, according to the administration.
"There are new levels of acceptance after 9-11," said State Trooper Roger Beaupre. "Those policies are in place for those on board."
Chet Snouffer, president of the U.S. Boomerang Association, said boomerangs typically weigh between 1{ to 2{ ounces and pose no threat.
"It's too small and lightweight to do any damage," Snouffer said. "It's like throwing a couple of first class letters at somebody."
"A girl walked by us on the plane with two tennis rackets," said Miale-Gix. "A tennis racket is much more dangerous on that plane than any of our boomerangs can ever be."
Snouffer said he and his teammates travel frequently to competitions all over the world and they always carry their boomerangs on board. He said no one has ever been asked to remove the boomerangs from their carryon luggage.
Australian aborigines used non-returning throwing sticks as hunting weapons, but actual boomerangs have never been used as weapons, Snouffer said.
"Perhaps several hundred years ago, that was a partially accurate perception," Miale-Gix said. "Boomerangs are not weapons, they are sporting objects."
Miale-Gix is due in Enfield Superior Court on July 16, less than two weeks before she is scheduled to compete in the world championships in Kiel, Germany.
Copyright (c) 2002, The Associated Press
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This article originally appeared at:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ct--airportsecurity-b0701jul01.story
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