Air security apologizes over gun pendant

KELOWNA, British Columbia, May 30 (UPI) -- Canadian federal air security officials have apologized to a woman forced to remove a pendant of a six-shooter from her necklace in British Columbia.

Doctoral student Marnina Norys, 39, was ordered to remove the 1.5-inch, sterling silver pendant shaped like an antique Colt .45 Peacemaker revolver from her necklace Monday in Kelowna. She told the Globe and Mail she challenged the order.

"I was sort of stunned, and I just indicated there's no way I could cause damage with this thing," Norys said. "And when I said, 'It can't be any danger, what are you talking about,' the agent said, 'Well, it's what it represents.'"

A Kelowna newspaper ran the story, which led the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority to issue a telephone and e-mail apology to Norys from CATSA spokeswoman Anna-Karina Tabunar.

"I spoke with her personally to let her know that we agreed with her," Tabunar told the Globe and Mail.

Tabunar said the screening officer, who works for Garda World Security Corp., will get a refresher on the rules once she returns from time off.