AviationLawmakers call on TSA to reverse knife rule
Two leading lawmakers have called on TSA to reverse its ruling which would allow passengers to bring some types of knives with them on board. “The attacks on September 11, 2001, demonstrated that in the confined environment of an airplane, even a small blade in the hands of a terrorist can lead to disaster,” Rep. Ed Markey (S-Mass.) — who is running for the U.S. Senate seat recently vacated by John Kerry – wrote TSA director John Pistole.
Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York) is asking for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to reverse its decision to allow small knives on airplanes.
Schumer’s request comes just a day after Representative Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) sent a letter to the head of the TSA, John Pistole, expressing his concern and stating that he wants the policy reversed.
“The attacks on September 11, 2001, demonstrated that in the confined environment of an airplane, even a small blade in the hands of a terrorist can lead to disaster,” wrote Markey, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat recently vacated by John Kerry.
“In addition, the additional responsibility of assessing which knives meet the new requirements could be a distraction for already overburdened screeners at TSA checkpoints, potentially leading to increased wait times and decreased security.”
At a news conference last weekend, Schumer said allowing passengers to carry small weapons would only be a distraction for TSA agents.
“These items are dangerous, and have not become less so in the years since they were banned from planes,” the New York Democrat told reporters. “Now is not the time for reduced vigilance, or to place additional burdens on TSA agents who should be looking for dangerous items.”
Schumer also showed reporters a blade that would be allowed on a plane under the new rules. “It looks dangerous and it is dangerous. This can kill someone,” Schumer told reporters.
CN reports that in addition to Schumer and Markey, the Flight Attendant’s Union Coalition, which consists of almost 90,000 members, has started a campaign to reverse the policy. The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, a union representing more than 26,000 officers from sixty-five agencies, also opposes the decision.
Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson told CNN on Friday that he has the same “legitimate concerns” as the flight attendants that work for the company.
“If the purpose is to increase security checkpoint flow, there are much more effective steps we can take together to streamline the security checkpoints with risk-based screening mechanisms,” he wrote in a letter to Pistole.
The TSA said the knife that Schumer held during his press conference would, in fact, not be allowed on a flight under the new regulations as the blade can be locked in place. The blade also resembled a razor blade, which are still banned from passenger planes.
Under the policy, a knife with blades no longer than 2.36 inches and less than half an inch wide will be allowed in airline cabins as long as the blade does not lock in place and is retractable. Razorblades and box cutters are not allowed.
The rule also allows for a passenger to carry up to two golf clubs, toy bats, ski poles, hockey and lacrosse sticks, and pool cues in their carry-on luggage.
According to Pistole, the policy allows the United States to fall in line with international rules as well as continue the agency’s “risk-based security” approach. Kip Hawley, the former head of the TSA, said that agents who search for knives only takes away from the search for more dangerous objects such as bombs and hazardous liquids.
