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TSA Going Soft?

I don't know - 911 was achieved with box cutters. A suitably sharpened pocket knife would be just as dangerous.

Have to say that, while I find a lot of the security when you're flying a total PITA and completely OTT, I think even I would draw the line at knives ..


before 911 you could walk into cockpit without any issues, now all planes have them locked. if you really want to bring a box cutter on board you can sneak it in.

I have a small 1.5 inch pocket knife on me all the time, I'd be pissed to take it off everytime I board the plane.
 
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I don't see pocket knives being a big issue.
I do--when you consider that box cutters were sufficient to pull off the 9/11 attacks. I think it's absolutely insane to allow knives of ANY size back onto planes. They're going to restrict these to blades that are up to 2.36"--but that's plenty long enough to kill or injure someone. I understand that the cockpit doors are now fortified and locked, but what about the passengers and the flight attendants? They can be attacked by some knife-wielding lunatic...
 
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I find it a little amusing that they still will no long allow box cutters, when all the box cutters I have used have a smaller blade than the 2.36" allowed for the pocket knives.

The news broadcast I saw last night stated their reason being that they want to focus on finding more dangerous items such as explosives and guns.

They also said that each month they collect 800lbs of confiscated items, and 400lbs of that being pocket knives fitting the description of soon to be allowed knives.

And regardless of what is allowed on the plane, if someone wants to cause harm to someone they will find other ways to do so. My fist is big enough and packs enough punch to injure someone as I am sure many others' are too.
 
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I do--when you consider that box cutters were sufficient to pull off the 9/11 attacks. I think it's absolutely insane to allow knives of ANY size back onto planes. They're going to restrict these to blades that are up to 2.36"--but that's plenty long enough to kill or injure someone. I understand that the cockpit doors are now fortified and locked, but what about the passengers and the flight attendants? They can be attacked by some knife-wielding lunatic...


I'd rather have them focus on more dangerous items or illegal things. As it was mentioned, if you want to harm someone, you can find a way no matter what.
 
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I'd rather have them focus on more dangerous items or illegal things.
Um...knives would still BE illegal if not for this new change.

As it was mentioned, if you want to harm someone, you can find a way no matter what.
You're absolutely right. But why make it easier by allowing *KNIVES* on planes?
 
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maybe once they allow these they could also allow the "nice" restaurants to have steak knives. I was with a few friends and we went to a place that seemed nice, one of them ordered a steak, and when it was brought out he asked for a knife to cut it with, and he was told that they didn't have any because there was a chance of someone taking it on the plane. He was told he would have to use his fork for cutting.

I'm not sure if you know this, but its not exactly easy to cut a steak with a fork.
 
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Um...knives would still BE illegal if not for this new change.


You're absolutely right. But why make it easier by allowing *KNIVES* on planes?


what was the last time you traveled? Lines at the airports are huge and someone has to despose all those confiscated things. If they find a tiny knife in my pocket I get pulled aside and going to strip me for 30min. Result is waste of money and inefficient work by TSA.

I don't think anyone ever tried to capture a plane with box cutter after 9/11 and its not because they made them illegal. It's a smart move by TSA to become more efficient, and don't waste time and resources on stupid BS.

P. S. I would be the one to forget that I have a tiny knife in my pocket at all times. Its a useful tool that I think every person should have with them.

Your sound like you want to put a handcuffs on every passanger just to make sure the flight is safe. "and don't forget, handcuffs are for your own safety"
 
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maybe once they allow these they could also allow the "nice" restaurants to have steak knives. I was with a few friends and we went to a place that seemed nice, one of them ordered a steak, and when it was brought out he asked for a knife to cut it with, and he was told that they didn't have any because there was a chance of someone taking it on the plane. He was told he would have to use his fork for cutting.

I'm not sure if you know this, but its not exactly easy to cut a steak with a fork.


what a nonsense, they should just cage every passanger, I was told by an elephant that it's most comfortable way of traveling.
 
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I think it's a stupid move. Nothing has happened for awhile, so they get relaxed on security. Until the next thing happens. Sure, there won't be another 9/11 using knives, but why take the chance of a deranged passenger attacking another passenger or holding a stewardess hostage? I would have no problem with people packing their knives in their luggage if they want, but there's no use for them on the plane anyway. This is just a proposal for now, and I predict it won't take effect after all of the outcry from the pilots and flight attendants.
On a slightly related note, I heard the TSA is about to spend $500 million on new uniforms. I think we should dress them all in Barney Fife outfits lol.
 
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I would have had more of an opinion about this had I not heard a local TSA agent interviewed yesterday.....

why not allow knives....... most dont realize it...... but you can already take scissors as long as they are less than 4" from tip to screw.... thats the same thing as 2 knives when you remove the screw
 
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before 911 you could walk into cockpit without any issues, now all planes have them locked. if you really want to bring a box cutter on board you can sneak it in.

I have a small 1.5 inch pocket knife on me all the time, I'd be pissed to take it off everytime I board the plane.

The news reported that the TSA has confiscated more than one million knifes so far. Perhaps they will simply take it, if you tell them you have it? I refuse to carry anything I do not want them to take.

Not sure what they can do to you if they discover you sneaked a "weapon" aboard the aircraft.

I see this as a good thing.
 
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I think it's a stupid move. Nothing has happened for awhile, so they get relaxed on security. Until the next thing happens. Sure, there won't be another 9/11 using knives, but why take the chance of a deranged passenger attacking another passenger or holding a stewardess hostage? I would have no problem with people packing their knives in their luggage if they want, but there's no use for them on the plane anyway. This is just a proposal for now, and I predict it won't take effect after all of the outcry from the pilots and flight attendants.
On a slightly related note, I heard the TSA is about to spend $500 million on new uniforms. I think we should dress them all in Barney Fife outfits lol.

The ban on everything tells the terrorists to plan a different move. They are smart people and if there is another attack, we will ask ourselves, "why did we not think of that move?"

Before the TSA and the terrible events of 9/11, we did not see a rash of "deranged passengers attacking another passenger or holding a stewardess hostage."

And leave Barney alone, dag nabbit. I loved the little guy. :D After the uniforms, they will likely want something related to protecting us.
 
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maybe once they allow these they could also allow the "nice" restaurants to have steak knives. I was with a few friends and we went to a place that seemed nice, one of them ordered a steak, and when it was brought out he asked for a knife to cut it with, and he was told that they didn't have any because there was a chance of someone taking it on the plane. He was told he would have to use his fork for cutting.

I'm not sure if you know this, but its not exactly easy to cut a steak with a fork.

Holy cats in a bag. Seriously? No wait, why am I the least bit surprised that some silly moron decides that his steak house should not allow knives. Did you tell the server that the fork can be used to stab people in the brain, so they better use plastic. And coffee. Forget the coffee because it makes you hyper.

Warn the eatery that by coming to their place, you might take one of their forks, drink some coffee and go postal.

Better yet, go to Burger King . . . I'll email you a coupon for some Freedom Fries and a Burger that is made from a cow Dick Cheney himself shot.
 
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what was the last time you traveled? Lines at the airports are huge and someone has to despose all those confiscated things. If they find a tiny knife in my pocket I get pulled aside and going to strip me for 30min. Result is waste of money and inefficient work by TSA.

I don't think anyone ever tried to capture a plane with box cutter after 9/11 and its not because they made them illegal. It's a smart move by TSA to become more efficient, and don't waste time and resources on stupid BS.

P. S. I would be the one to forget that I have a tiny knife in my pocket at all times. Its a useful tool that I think every person should have with them.

Your sound like you want to put a handcuffs on every passanger just to make sure the flight is safe. "and don't forget, handcuffs are for your own safety"

If you look on YouTube, a professional locksmith demonstrates how to use a simple shim to get out of those cuffs. So I suggest something else.

Cages are a good idea, I must admit.

Also, make every flight a naked flight so there is nothing to hide.

Perhaps we need a crazy person to strangle a Stewardess with his shirt or pants. The TSA will surely ban clothing.
 
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I would have had more of an opinion about this had I not heard a local TSA agent interviewed yesterday.....

why not allow knives....... most dont realize it...... but you can already take scissors as long as they are less than 4" from tip to screw.... thats the same thing as 2 knives when you remove the screw

I didn't know that. I guess you might as well allow knives if that is true.
 
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When we consider that the sole function of the Bush-era TSA was to spread false fear among the traveling public, so that they would meekly comply with that administration's agenda of "big government-no personal liberties", I think that it's about time that the US' own Orwellian ministry for FUD-spreading backed down and got real.

Having said that, I don't know if going straight to allowing pocket knives with blades long enough to intimidate (although not seriously injure) another passenger is quite the way to go. I'm not going to replace my sturdy pocket knife for one that's TSA-compliant any time soon! But I would like to get through our new "intra-state Customs" without having all of my cool toys "confiscated" by criminals wearing uniforms.

So I give a hearty "Bravo" to the Land-of-the-Free, Home-of-the-Brave people and suggest a less shocking step back towards restoring our Constitutional liberties.
 
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I think it's a stupid move. Nothing has happened for awhile, so they get relaxed on security. Until the next thing happens. Sure, there won't be another 9/11 using knives, but why take the chance of a deranged passenger attacking another passenger or holding a stewardess hostage?
First of all, it's Flight Attendant, not stewardess.

Now...if you want a 100% guaranteed safe flight, you can simply stay at home and cower. There will always be some unruly passenger or other kind of threat. Now that the American flying public has enough courage to risk air piracy charges to save a flight from a deranged pilot-in-command, I think it's a pretty safe bet that we will continue to handle deranged passengers with equal aplomb.
 
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First of all, it's Flight Attendant, not stewardess.

Now...if you want a 100% guaranteed safe flight, you can simply stay at home and cower. There will always be some unruly passenger or other kind of threat. Now that the American flying public has enough courage to risk air piracy charges to save a flight from a deranged pilot-in-command, I think it's a pretty safe bet that we will continue to handle deranged passengers with equal aplomb.

OK, I'll play PC . . it is Flight Attendant.
 
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Don't quite understand the argument about not being able to 100% guarantee safety: nothing can be 100% safe, you do what you can to make it as safe as practicable.

I've read what people say above and I'm still not convinced allowing bladed objects on flights is a great idea. Then again, in the UK, there are laws against carrying knives on the street so maybe I'm just a bit of a wuss ..
 
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