TSA

[Pherr the Dorf]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8917950/

Edmund S. "Kip" Hawley, an assistant secretary of homeland security, directed his staff to propose changes in how the agency screens 2 million passengers a day. The staff's first set of recommendations, detailed in an Aug. 5 document, includes proposals to lift the ban on various carry-on items such as scissors, razor blades and knives less than five inches long. It also proposes that passengers no longer routinely be required to remove their shoes at security checkpoints.

The proposal also would allow ice picks, throwing stars and bows and arrows on flights. Allowing those items was suggested after a risk evaluation was conducted about which items posed the most danger.

K. Jack Riley, a homeland security expert at Rand Corp., said hardened cockpit doors, air marshals and stronger public vigilance will prevent another 9/11-style hijacking. "Frankly, the preeminent security challenge at this point is keeping explosives off the airplane," Riley said. The TSA's ideas, he said, "recognize the reality that we know that air transportation security has changed post-9/11. Most of these rules don't contribute to security."

Fuck you and your ideas...k?

Ice picks are not allright...k?

[Aslanna]

The proposal also would allow ice picks, throwing stars and bows and arrows on flights.

About damn time. Now I can fly again!

[kyoukan]

the odds of a group of people being able to hijack a plane in the US using small melee weapons or cutting tools are pretty close to nil I would say.

although I don't see why bans would be lifted on things like small knives and ice picks. those kinds of things were banned well before 9/11. its not just because of hijacking. a lot of people get very stressed out when flying and the staff on board don't need people freaking out when they have sharp things in their carryons.

[Zaelath]

Here's the thing that amuses me... I had an aerosol can and a lighter on every flight I did after 9/11, and was never questioned on it. My bags were unpacked at least once when they were doing everyone's bags in Korea (that's not a comfortable feeling when they have military checking *every* carry on for a particular plane).

I dunno about you, but I'm pretty sure I could cause some real havoc with a deodorant flame thrower, where as a real knife so I could cut my chicken probably wouldn't have been a big deal.

The minimum wage security in Chicago did make me give them one of my lighters though, I'd forgotten to take the smokes out of my pocket and had to be wanded, so they hassled me about two lighters... =)

[Tegellan]

I doubt you could do much with a deodorant flamethrower really. Sure you might burn a guy or two but it's not really a weapon you can use to control hostages since you need both hands to use it, a knife would be way more efficient for this.

[Aabidano]

Most of these rules don't contribute to security."

Most of the knee jerk reactions to 9/11 didn't do anything to make things more secure. They were to make people feel better, and make it seem that the govt. was doing something about the problem.

Icepicks? I doubt they'd have let you on with one of those before 9/11, same with throwing stars regardless of what the rules said.

[Burke]

So I can finally travel with Jabby, my lucky icepick.
Oh, the adventures we've had...

[Zaelath]

I doubt you could do much with a deodorant flamethrower really. Sure you might burn a guy or two but it's not really a weapon you can use to control hostages since you need both hands to use it, a knife would be way more efficient for this.

Ok, so add some electrical tape to my bag

I was more thinking of the general panic one would cause setting several passengers alight and drawing attention away from the rest of team hijack while they work on breaching the cabin. One would think a well equipped terrorist could have something a little more interesting in a deodorant can than aluminum oxide and propellant too...

Albeit I think it's an over-reaction to ban deodorant, but who really needs a lighter on a plane anyway, and it wasn't an over-reaction to ban nail clippers? I've already rambled on about the wonderful shivs one can create from a toothbrush and a lighter.

People are endlessly creative at finding ways to make common objects into weapons, but it seems the rules don't pass sanity tests. Like, if they can't issue what are barely better than butter knives with your meal, why do I get a nice sturdy metal fork that can probably inflict serious damage?

[Arborealus]

Yeah airplane ice is notoriously large...

[Xzion]

security sucks ass, period.

when i was flying back from tokyo my friend accidentally put his fucking STREIGHT RAZOR BLADE (a far more dangerous potential weapon then a box opener) in his carry on...security in tokyo and detroit both didnt realize it

[Seebs]

Anybody knowing Martial Arts will be asked to check their hands and feet before entering.

[Canoe]

although I don't see why bans would be lifted on things like small knives and ice picks. those kinds of things were banned well before 9/11. its not just because of hijacking. a lot of people get very stressed out when flying and the staff on board don't need people freaking out when they have sharp things in their carryons.

Actually that's not true, I always used to fly with my swiss army knife or jack knife.. didn't have to stop doing that until 9/11.

As far as lighters, it is a pain in the ass if you are a smoker, sure you don't need them on the plane, but before you get on / and when you get off you would like to have them. It's a pain if you are flying to somewhere for a week, and have to find a place to buy a lighter.

[Drasta]

what the hell are you going to do with a knife on an airplane? you simply don't need one ... nor do you need a lighter, an ice pick, a throwing star or any of that bullshit

[Akanae]

while they probably wouldnt have let you get through security with a knife before 9/11 they were still a bit more lax than they are now.
For example: when I was flying home from my bridal shower in Cali I had packed in a hurry and had accidentaly packed the 7" cake knife and server someone had given me as a present in my carry on baggage.

The guys at the security check point stopped me, but I explained it was a wedding gift so they let me through (it also probably didnt hurt that I was a 22 year old white girl). I bet if I had done that post 9/11 they would have taken it from me.... but come on how much damage am I going to do with a blunt cake knife? You would be better off with a coat hanger and bending it into a weapon.

I have to agree with the poster above in that if people want a weapon on planes they will construct one. What is helping with security is not letting people onto the cockpits/ air marshalls etc.

But banning toe nail clippers? come on...

[Siji]

But banning toe nail clippers? come on...

You've apparently never seen the same kind of nasty toenails that I've seen!

[Voronwë]

bows....that is funny