FL Man Trades Missle Launcher for Sneakers

Wonder if this might work in Afghanistan:

Police were hoping for a good turnout at their “Kicks for Guns” sneaker exchange Friday, but they weren’t expecting to get a surface-to-air missile launcher.

An Ocoee man showed up and exchanged the 4-foot-long launcher for size-3 Reebok sneakers for his daughter.

This really puts the recent TSA MANPADS Airport Footprint Analysis Software request in perspective. Rather than spend oodles of money trying to develop an accurate 3D model of airports to predict shoulder-fired missile danger zones, perhaps someone could start assessing what percentage of the 500,000 MANPADs are in the US already and calculating the number and cost of sneakers needed to trade for them?

Uncommon? This story comes shortly after CNN reported a rocket launcher found in a New Jersey lawn, and the AP reported a patriot missile discovered in a Florida scrap yard.

Experts were drafted in from the nearby MacDill Air Force Base, who quickly identified the object as a Patriot. They said that it was harmless, as it was missing its warhead. MacDill spokesman Lt. Omar Villarreal confirmed that the missile did not contain, in his words, ‘the part on top that goes boom.’

According to reports, however, the missile still had its rocket motor and guidance system. Experts suggested that it could have been a model used for training purposes.

Wired even has a picture. Last time I checked, secure missile disposal by the DoD meant that a motor (hazardous material) and guidance system (classified material) should not end up in an uncontrolled/public area.

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