[AirVictim]

In August of 2009 I flew to Las Vegas to play in a pool tournament. I had not flown since before 9/11, so I knew security was heightened. I was told that I couldn't carry my pool stick as "carry on". So, packing light, I put everything in one bag that I checked in. Delta/Northwest charged me for this.
When I got to the hotel in Las Vegas, I opened my bag and my camera gear was missing. I went back to the airport and filed a stolen item report. Two weeks after I got home, I received a letter from the woman in charge of Delta/Northwest's baggage complaint dept. She asked me for receipts for my camera gear. I dutilfully made copies of all my receipts and sent them to her. Two weeks after that, I got a letter from her saying that Delta/Northwest would not reimburse me, and that they weren't responsible.
Okay, forget my camera equipment. Tell me how baggage handlers can come and go into the airport without being searched or questioned when one is leaving with a camera bag? Later, via the internet, I learned that the FBI had busted Delta/Northwest baggage handlers in Miami and Washington state for running theft rings.
Why is it that passengers have to all but strip and be xrayed, and baggage handlers don't. They can put whatever they want on a plane.
I sent letters to all the major television networks, the FAA, Janet Napolitano (homeland security).
I received apolgetic form letters assuring me of the safety of United States airtravel.