The TSA just relaxed the rules on what is permitted on board planes. Now we are allowed to bring small pocket knives and some sporting equipment such as ski poles or lacrosse sticks. Are you in favor of the TSA's decision to allow small pocket knives on board? Do you think this makes flyers safer? Or do you think this is riskier? The Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions and George Randall Taylor, head of the air marshal unit of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, have spoken out against this new policy, specifically against allowing small knives on board during flights.
From Freedom Outpost:
Small pocketknives and an array of sporting equipment — banned from aircraft cabins in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — will once again be allowed in U.S. planes, the head of the Transportation Security Administration said Tuesday.
Knives with blades that are 2.36 inches (6 centimeters) or shorter and less than a 1/2 inch wide will be permitted on U.S. airline flights as long as the blade is not fixed or does not lock into place. Razor blades and box cutters are still not permitted.
Two golf clubs, toy bats or other sports sticks — such as ski poles, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks or pool cues — will also be allowed in carry-on luggage. CONTINUED
I think it was determined that at least some of the 9/11 hijackers used utility knives. Don't utility knives lock into place? If so, they still wouldn't be allowed on board. Although I am also unsure as to why a knife that does or does not lock into place would determine whether it's allowed on the plane. I mean I thought pocketknives had a lock position as well as an unlocked position. Although, I'm sure there are many different kinds of pocketknives.
6 comments:
I only fly about once every 5 years, but I am in favor. In this post-9/11 world, passengers are gonna go all Flight 97 on the bad guys, and they might as well have the tools to make the bad guys bleed.
Good point Innom about passengers going all Flight 97 on the bad guys.
There are pocketknives (they're called 'lockbacks') that have a positive locking mechanism when you open the blade; other pocket knives depend on the spring to hold the blade in place. I'd imagine the folks thinking of this rule are figuring that the positive lock of a lockback functionally turns it into a fixed-blade knife.
Without having read the whole rule, though, I cant be sure - but it wouldn't surprise me that a government bureau would put out a deliberately vague rule.
Sounds like another diversion to get us all fired up. Apparently indicating stupidity is a way to achieve their goal in an alternative world.
Why not? I carry my Timberwolf Rainbow knife and mace wherever I go.
Might as well have some kind of protection.
Wake me when this national nightmare is over. I am all for the new rules, but I think they should be expanded to include allowing passengers to bring their drinks on board. Stop the strip searching of little kids and the elderly and start concentrating on 20 year old and older folks who are from Middle Eastern countries. A little more profiling and a little less stupidity, and we can all be safe.
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