Although not very new, it is still a danger to travellers, or anyone for that matter. Pencil guns were outlawed some time ago, but these probably are too. I’m not sure one of these would make it through security–today’s imaging systems do a good job of looking through layers and coloring items of different density.

My friend Larry send me this video, showing a 4-shot cell phone gun in action. The scary part is that it can fire off that many shots in a short time frame. I don’t think that the security checkpoints are in that much danger, except maybe at a small airport, but the real danger is getting it aboard an airplane. Even a .22 caliber round can do considerable damage when the cabin is pressurized.

Again, I doubt that this weapon will have any greater chance of getting through security that any other weapon. Today’s focus seems to be more on chemical detection.

Here is the full text of the article that I received. It was unattributed, so I cannot provide an original link.

Cell phone guns – see
If you get asked to test your cell phone at the airport, this is the reason. Because cell phone guns have been discovered. The attached video clip shows how cell phone guns operate. These phones are not in the U.S. yet, but they are in use overseas. Beneath the digital phone face is a .22 caliber handgun capable of firing four rounds in rapid succession using the standard telephone keypad.

European law enforcement officials are stunned by the discovery of these deadly decoys. They say phone guns are changing the rules of engagement in Europe . “We find it very alarming,” says Wolfgang Dicke of the German Police Union . “It means police will have to draw their weapons whenever a person being checked reaches for their cell phone.”

Although cell phone guns have not reached the U.S. yet, the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Customs Service say they have been briefed on the new weapons.

All U.S. ports of entry have been alerted. These covert weapons were first discovered in October of 2000 when Dutch police came upon a cache during a drug raid in Amsterdam . In another recent incident, a Croatian gun dealer was caught attempting to smuggle a shipment through Slovenia into Western Europe .

Police say both shipments are believed to have originated in Yugoslavia .. Interpol sent a warning to law enforcement agencies around the world. “If you didn’t know they were guns, you would think they were cell phones,” said Ari Zandbergen, a spokesperson for the Amsterdam police. “Only when you have one in your hand do you realize that they are heavier than a regular cell phone.”

Be patient if security asks to look at your cell phone or turn it on to show that it works. They have a good reason!