In Merrie Olde England, land of the Magna Carta, a grandmotherly woman has her paperback novel confiscated because it has (gasp) a picture of a gun on it.
As Mrs Burgess placed her Robert B Parker novel, A Triple Shot of Spenser, onto the security tray she had it snatched away from her because it ‘might upset passengers’ on the plane. It had the image of a handgun on the front.
‘I must have looked stunned, as I am past my half-century and not perhaps the most obvious terrorist,’ said the Royal Bank of Scotland clerical worker. ‘I honestly thought they were joking. It seemed so silly. I was half way through merrily reading my book.’….
A spokesman for BAA said: ‘In certain circumstances, a passenger carrying an item which features an image or slogan that could be perceived as aggressive may be asked to cover it up or remove it. Security officers are advised to use common sense when making these requests.’ - Jersey (UK) Online
BAA might consider working up some common sense retraining seminars - I don’t think the current approach is working. I’d suggest they thumb through 1984 except I’m afraid they’d view it as a treasure trove of policy suggestions.
Another account says she got the book back with - surprise - some thoughtcrime-type conditions:
Eventually, after three officials had consulted each other on this serious matter, Mrs Burgess, a 58-year-old bank worker, was told she could take the book on the plane – provided she kept it in her bag and didn’t read it.
September 9, 2009 
(The white object is a Kindle resting on top of the netbook sleeve)
Available in padded (shown), cork, and ultrasuede.
;)
