April 25 will bring a change in airport security: TSA will allow small pocket knives and a few other previously banned items aboard planes, according to ABC News.
ABC News said the change, which pertains to U.S. flights, will include knives with blades less than 6 cm, golf clubs, ski poles and other sporting sticks. Baseball bats will remain on a no-carry list. Razor blades and box cutters will also continue to be banned.
TSA Administrator John Pistole said screening for these regularly carried items slows down security lines. He said in the last quarter of 2012, the Los Angeles International Airport, TSA workers confiscated nearly 50 small knives a day, according to ABC News.
Flight attendants are unhappy with the increased risks, saying “Continued prohibition of these items is an integral layer in making our aviation system secure and must remain in place,” a statement from the Flight Attendants Union Coalition read.
What do you think? Are you OK with these changes? Tell us in the comments.
Justin Braga
11:28 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
Knives = OK. 4 oz. bottle of moisturizer = Not OK? TSA is incredibly ridiculous...
Bill Anderson
6:06 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
The Justin Braga?
Justin Braga
12:24 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Tne one and the same, Bill! Fancy running into you on here! The Summer of '99 up at Mayflower seems like so long ago now! I hope things are well with you!
Gary Kerr
11:29 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
And where do you stand on the currently allowed 4" scissors (with pointy tips, no less) and 7" screwdrivers. I support the TSA's proposed changes. While I don't want to see anyone harmed by a dangerous object, we already allow items that are far more dangerous than a little pocketknife. I believe the biggest threat is bombs and I think that's what the TSA should be concentrating on.
Darryn Carroll
11:55 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
Persons carrying a banned item should be put in another line once the suspected item is found. The "good" fliers continue through the line without interruption. The "bad" fliers can now go wait their turn in another long line, line took too long? Missed your flight?, guess you will not bring a banned item next time.
Allowing pocket knives and other banned items back on the plane is just inviting trouble!
DJ
2:08 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
But that is rational, fair and would benefit those following the rules....
Gary Kerr
11:29 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
So if an item is currently allowed (4" scissors, 7" screwdrivers) they're obviously safe? Could we step back and take a look at what the TSA is wasting their time with? Your 7" screwdriver is okay; my 1.25" pocketknife is not; my wife's 4" scissors are okay, her little circular thread cutter is not. I believe the threats these days are from bombs, not needle nose pliers (currently allowed). Let the TSA do their job to prevent bombs and quit playing referee over knitting needles.
Talkmansfield.com
2:08 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Why is it trouble to have knives on planes? There are hundreds of places where a person could be assaulted each day. No one can enter the cockpit, so what's the big deal with knives on planes?
Serves You Right
12:24 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Hey moron.......Remember 9/11? Box cutter...stupid little box cutters with little razor blades wound up killing 4000 people...gained entrance to the cockpit with them....THAT's The big deal bubba!!!! Jeekas Creepas..whats a ridicules statement on you part!!!
Gary Kerr
11:29 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
I think the problem is that people aren't considering the potential for the items that are currently allowed. And for some reason, little pocketknives have become a a feared item, while much more dangerous scissors have not. Quite frankly, I think people are confusing pocketknives that have non-locking blades with switchblades.
Gary Kerr
11:29 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
I read another comment in this thread. I see that people really are confusing little pocketknives that are too small to grip, that can't really be gripped -- they have to be held by the fingers, because the blade can fold in and cut your fingers if you're not careful...they're confusing these "designed to not be weapons" little pocketknives with box cutters. Box cutters are completely different animals. I'd fear a drunk with a mechanical pencil far more than I would someone with a little pocketknife.
Anonymous
2:08 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
If keeping 6 cm knives off planes is truly an "integral layer" in airline safety, then the whole system is in really bad shape. I've been on flights that served meals with metal flatware, so knives are already on planes. And, is a small knife that much more dangerous than a pen in the hands of a person determined to destroy the plane and all passengers, including himself? Lock the cockpit doors, ban guns, and quit worrying about how many ounces of deodorant I have or what I might do with a nail file.
paul
6:02 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
The TSA should be axed, they do nothing except increase the cost and time of travel.
Mjh6
6:02 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
My two favorite screenings are those of the elderly (lucky us! We can stop removing our shoes at age 74!) and for breast cancer survivors with implants. Did you know breast cancer survivors must travel with an ID card to alert our wonderfully trained and skillful screeners about their implants?
Steve Hopkins
12:24 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
No knives. Either packed them with your checked baggage if any, or UPS them to your destination!
Gary Kerr
11:29 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
What about my 4" scissors with a pointy end that are too dangerous (in my opinion) to carry in my pocket? The TSA and flight attendants don't have a problem with 4" scissors, but they do with my 1.25" pocketknife? What about 7" screwdrivers. Are you telling me that if a dog was attacking you, you'd reach for a little pocketknife with a folding, non-locking blade instead of a 7" screwdriver?
Serves You Right
12:24 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
You know what the definition or Terrorist is...? Yes..a group wanting to create terror!! and it's working!! I'm sure Dogs could detect explosives in shoes, underwear, in bags....metal detectors and x-ray devices can detect firearms and knives and unfortunately profiling!! Israel hasn't had an instance in decades. maybe take a closer look as to what they do to prevent airborne terrorism without the massive delays at the airport!!!
Todd Ouellet
5:15 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
No knives on planes. I agree with that statment. I don't like our rights being taken away. I believe individuals should be allowed to carry a knife and if licensed a firearm. But not on a plane. Unfortunately this as all other restictrive measures only takes away from the law obiding citizen. the bad guys will get the weapons on board if they want. Metal detectors are a joke. There are many materials from which a sharp edge can be crafted that will go undetected. All you anti gunners should be all over this! If you think a gun is more dangerous than a knife in the hands of a skilled combatant then you need to be educated in violence. This is one regulation they got right. We have had a pretty good report card from air safety since 911. No knives on planes. This is a no brainer!
Gary Kerr
11:29 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
After 9/11, my wife couldn't carry knitting needles or scissors. In 2005, they changed the rules and she, and others, have been flying with VERY SHARP, and VERY POINTY embroidery scissors. The blades can be up to 4" long. I can't carry all the stuff in my pockets that my wife can in her purse. Many years ago they came out with a handy gadget for men; a Swiss Army Knife. My wife has scissors in her purse: I have scissors in my knife. My wife has tweezers; gee, so do I...in my knife. I'm looking for partial parity with my wife. She can travel with sharp cutting instruments. She can travel with screwdrivers. She can travel with tweezers. She can travel with nail files. I have all of those on my little pocketknife -- something that safely folds and fits in my pocket. But I have to check a bag and do without while flying -- a hang nail for me has to remain a hang nail until I can retrieve my suitcase. I'm tired of checking a bag. Quite frankly, I don't think it's fair that I have to check a bag for a 1.25" harmless pocketknife and my wife can walk on with a 7" screwdriver. Besides, they're handing out knives to first class passengers anyway.