B727 ACFT IN CRUISE RECEIVED RPT FROM FLT ATTENDANT THAT A GUN WAS HANGING IN FORWARD LAVATORY. REMEMBERING A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WAS ON BOARD AND ARMED; FLC ASKED HIM IF THE GUN WAS HIS AND HE WAS MORTIFIED THAT HE HAD LEFT IT IN THE LAVATORY.

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IN CRUISE; LEAD FLT ATTENDANT COMES INTO COCKPIT VISIBLY SHAKEN AND TOLD US THERE WAS A GUN HANGING IN FORWARD LAVATORY. I RECALLED THE NOTICE TO PIC OF AN ARMED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER RIDING AS A PAX AND THE CAPT SENT THE SO BACK TO TALK TO THE AGENT TO FIND OUT IF THE GUN BELONGED TO HIM. HE CONFIRMED IT WAS HIS AND AFTER SHOWING HIS IDENT AND BADGE; WAS ALLOWED TO RETRIEVE HIS FIREARM. THE SO OBSERVED THAT THE AGENT WAS OBVIOUSLY A NERVOUS FLIER AND WAS SWEATING EXCESSIVELY. THE AGENT WAS MORTIFIED BY THE FACT THAT HE HAD LEFT HIS GUN BEHIND WHILE FRESHENING UP. OUR INITIAL REACTION WAS THAT THIS WAS A PRETTY FUNNY INCIDENT. SINCE THEN; HOWEVER; MY FEELING HAS CHANGED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE SERIOUS. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CARRYING WEAPONS ON BOARD ACFT AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS VERY SERIOUS. IF A PERSON IS NERVOUS ABOUT FLYING; THAT FEELING MIGHT CLOUD HIS/HER JUDGEMENT SHOULD HIS SVCS BECOME NEEDED. I HAVE LONG BEEN A PROPONENT OF EVERYONE'S RIGHT TO OWN AND CARRY A FIREARM; BUT I AM VERY MUCH AGAINST THE CARRIAGE OF LOADED WEAPONS ON ACFT AND THIS INCIDENT ONLY UNDERSCORES THAT FEELING.