Baliyo no more.... Score one pen for the TSA.

[RedRunner]

Why is it absurd to ban knives on planes? My rationale is that it is not easy to subdue an irate passenger (someone who has lost it) in the tight confines of a plane. I would not be thrilled that on top of the crazy person, I have to watchout for knives being swung around. I'd rather we just stick to brute force which doesn't usually cause as many accidental serious injuries.

At the moment, I don't see knitting needles as a big deal. For some odd reason, crazy people have not been carrying them and using them as weapons. But a knife is certainly a weapon, in addition to it's utilitarian capabilities. Is there a particular reason you need a knife with you (i.e. accessible) on a plane? I don't see this as a loss of freedom or liberty. You have the right to own and possess the knife, what you are not allowed to do is fly with it in the confines of other, but seperate (i.e. the general public) passengers and the rule was put in place for safety. Justifiably so after we lost several planes and tallest building in the world, directly due to crazy people having knives on planes. I personally have no need for a knife with me on the plane. I'm not sure exactly what I would be doing with it during the flight. My only issue is if I want the knife at my destination (for hiking), I'm troubled by the potential theft of it from my checked bag. But that's an issue with the baggage handlers (and/or TSA) who steal from checked bags. That is certainly an illegal activity in which there is very little enforcement of.

Now with respect to the pen folder, that should not have happened. I disagree with the taking of a pen. It's a fine line and it gets crossed, which isn't fair, but admittedly it happens.

[marlinspike]

Why is it absurd to ban knives on planes? My rationale is that it is not easy to subdue an irate passenger (someone who has lost it) in the tight confines of a plane. I would not be thrilled that on top of the crazy person, I have to watchout for knives being swung around. I'd rather we just stick to brute force which doesn't usually cause as many accidental serious injuries.

Knives were allowed on planes for an entire generation, and the dangers of unsubduable irate passengers never materialized.

[markg]

Justifiably so after we lost several planes and tallest building in the world, directly due to crazy people having knives on planes.

The reason the 9/11 hijackers were successful was not because they were armed with knives. They were able to carry out their acts of terrorism because they exploited age old protocol of what to do when a plane is hijacked. Flight crews were taught (and even the general public knew to) comply with the demands, get the plane on the ground, and let authorities deal with it from there. Anyone old enough to remember the 1970's remembers the images of planes "hijacked to Cuba" or what not, sitting on runways. The hijackers knew this, and were able to exploit it. You will note that when the passenger of United Flight 93 knew the fate of their aircraft they did not sit and comply with "demands." A 9/11 style hijacking would be difficult to pull off today because the rules have changed so to speak.

That being said, no I don't get hacked off at knives not being allowed on planes, and yes I know they once were. I get more upset (as noted) with inspection agents who steal from baggage.

[The Mentaculous]

I will go to great lengths to avoid flying these days. I'd rather drive 3,000 miles than be violated, treated like a criminal, and possibly robbed.

A few years ago, I got through security TWICE with 3 folding knives in my carry on (all were around 3 or 3.5" blades). I totally forgot they were in there, and found them when I got home.

This is what actually disturbs me the most...They spend valuable time and energy focusing on completely insignificant items like a pen or lighter, and then don't take enough time digging to actually find things like large knives, razors, box cutters and even worse things. I don't care how tactical it is, you're not hijacking a plane with a pen

Also what disturbs me, is that the people who are effected by security measures like this are average citizens who don't try to hide potentially "dangerous items", and probably in any hijacking scenario, would be using them to try to thwart it.

It's kind of the same thing that I see with gun control (not to say I'm totally opposed to gun legislation)--but when you take these measure to take weapons out of average, law abiding citizen's hands, you'd better make sure you also do a dang good job getting them out of the criminal's hands as well, or that puts average citizens at a real disadvantage with criminals, who aren't going to be concerned with obeying gun laws. Look at so called "socialist" countries like Sweden--they often encourage legitimate gun ownership and try to have the average citizens be armed, and I believe that they see much lower crime, especially gun crimes, than the US.

[The Deacon]

That being said, no I don't get hacked off at knives not being allowed on planes, and yes I know they once were. I get more upset (as noted) with inspection agents who steal from baggage.

I'd be ok with them saying it has to be kept in my carry-on bag and that I'll be arrested if I take it out during the flight. However, even without the potential theft issue, why should an honest citizen whose travel needs can be adequately handled by a single piece of carry-on luggage be forced to check that bag and suffer the inconvenience of having to wait for it to be unloaded and the greater risk of damage to its other contents, simply in order to have a knife to use at his destination?

[suedeface]

I think it's crazy that we can't even bring a swiss army classic keychain knife on a plane with us, but anyone can bring their cellphone on a plane, which I was told could interfere with the planes instruments (they even make you turn your phones off when taking off and landing because of this). Not to mention that the battery compartment on the phone would be a great way to smuggle some plastic explosive in. Seems that the majority of people don't really care about not being able to bring a pocket knife on a plane, but how many of these same people would have a fit if they couldn't bring their precious cell phone with them?