Weapons On A Plane? TSA Says 'Sure!'

The TSA continues to make rules based on emotion and appearances rather than passenger safety.

It’s been a while since we’ve written about the anti-rights disaster that is the Transportation Security Administration. But they’re still there, still abusing people’s rights under the guise of “making us safer.”

Ironically, I’m writing about TSA today because they are relaxing their restrictions. The TSA has decided to allow small knives and golf clubs on the plane.

So, for those playing along at home, you still can’t have liquids over three ounces on the plane. But knives, you know, THE THINGS THAT THE TERRORISTS ACTUALLY USED TO TAKE OVER THE PLANES ON 9/11, are okay now….

Bloomberg reports on this latest, completely nonsensical regulation:

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration will let people carry small pocketknives onto passenger planes for the first time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, along with golf clubs, hockey sticks and plastic Wiffle Ball-style bats.

The agency will permit knives with retractable blades shorter than 6 centimeters (2.36 inches) and narrower than 1/2 inch, TSA Administrator John Pistole said today at an aviation security conference in Brooklyn. The change, to conform with international rules, takes effect April 25.

Box cutters, the weapon 9/11 terrorists used to storm the cabin are still illegal:

Sponsored

Box cutters, like those used by the Sept. 11 terrorists, and razor blades will still be banned.

“The sensitivity to those who were attacked on 9/11 still resonates strongly,” Pistole said. “There’s just too much emotion associated with them, particularly the box cutters.”

That statement actually perfectly captures everything that is wrong with the TSA. They’re making safety decisions based on “emotion” instead of hard evidence of what makes us safer and what doesn’t. Small replica bats under 24 inches are allowed, but regulation-size bats are not allowed. Oh, and golf clubs are allowed… so if you are going to kill people on a plane, make sure you bring your 5 iron instead of your Louisville Slugger. Thanks!

The TSA argues that the restrictions can be relaxed because the pilot’s cabin is much more secure than it used to be. Apparently, it’s okay to stab flight attendants to death as long as nobody can get into the cockpit. Unless the terrorists start systematically going through the cabin killing passengers until the pilots open the door. DID YOU THINK OF THAT, TSA?

Actually, they probably did. That’s the thing, the TSA behaves as if it’s being run by a guy who has watched one too many episodes of 24… only if that guy was also incredibly lazy and liked leering at scans of women and children:

“The idea that we have to look for, to find and then somehow resolve whatever that prohibited item is — that takes time and effort,” Pistole said. “That may detract us from that item that could lead to a catastrophic failure on an aircraft.”

The greatest threat to U.S. travelers is currently small, non-metallic bombs, not knives or sporting equipment, Pistole said.

Sponsored

To be clear, the TSA is NOT keeping us safe. Its entire purpose is to look like they’re doing something so people don’t freak out. Do you really think that an organization that can’t effectively and timely prevent people form taking stabbing weapons on airliners is going to have great success preventing small non-metallic bombs?

By making you take off your shoes?

Or feeling you up?

That’s the most ridiculous thing: The TSA decided to relax its restrictions, but NOT to return basic rights to airline passengers. They’re still free to scan you, feel you, and search your stuff, for any cause or no cause at all. BUT if all they find is a switchblade, a driver, and a hockey stick, you’re free to board the plane and menace flight attendants with all the blunt force trauma you can muster.

Not box cutters though, because taking those on the plane would make people emotional.

And while the sequester is cutting into the number of air traffic controllers that we have PREVENTING PLANES FROM FLYING INTO EACH OTHER, the TSA remains fully funded.

The terrorists won folks. Those bastards freaking won.

TSA Will Permit Knives, Golf Clubs on U.S. Planes [Bloomberg]