Editing 651: Bag Check

{{comic
| number    = 651
| date      = October 19, 2009
| title     = Bag Check
| image     = bag_check.png
| titletext = A laptop battery contains roughly the stored energy of a hand grenade, and if shorted it... hey! You can't arrest me if I prove your rules inconsistent!
}}

==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] argues with a {{w|Transportation Security Administration|TSA}} agent at an airport security checkpoint over the TSA policy of prohibiting airline passengers from bringing liquids or gels in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces (100 ml) in their carry on items. In an attempt prove his point, Cueball points out that if he did want to make a bomb he could simply take the lithium ion battery from his laptop computer to turn into an improvised explosive. Cueball is attempting to point out that the security policy is missing the forest for the trees, however, because the explosive properties of lithium ion is not common knowledge, this instead simply makes the security team additionally suspicious why he would know that.

The title text continues Cueball's line of argument, segueing into a protest as the situation escalates to the point of Cueball apparently being placed under arrest, again with the joke being that even fewer people still would know how explosive a hand grenade is. This is, however, a bit of an exaggeration, as for them to place someone under arrest, they need real reason to think that they are going to do something bad, and simply knowing this information is not enough to justify this action.

Interestingly, in 2017 a [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/advice/laptop-ban-on-flights-to-middle-east-advice-help-for-travellers/ ban on laptops] and other large, battery-equipped devices (but not smartphones) in the cabin was initiated by the United States, and followed by other countries, with the stated aim of lowering the risk of somebody bringing an explosive onto the plane inside it. Granted, this was in response to a Somali incident where a bomber snuck a laptop loaded with actual explosives (not just the batteries) onto a plane, but the similarities are still quite evident.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan are at a security checkpoint in an airport. A guard is holding an open backpack and a bottle of water, and Cueball is arguing with him.]
:Cueball: But if you're worried about bombs, why are you letting me keep my laptop batteries? If I overvolted them and breached the cells, it would make a sizeable explosion.
:Megan: Oh god.
:Cueball: It's okay, dear. In a moment he'll realize I have a good point and return my water.

==Trivia==
*The TSA [https://web.archive.org/web/20170630101802/https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2009/10/23/response-%E2%80%9Cbag-check%E2%80%9D-cartoon responded to this comic] in a blog post and Randall Munroe expounded on his intent in its comments.

{{comic discussion}}
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