TSA relaxing security. I won't let this pass away quietly

[DarkSideMoon]

After reading what the TSA is doing, I had to write a petition. I can't let this slip away. This is regarding TSA's relaxing of the prohibited items list, to allow scissors and screwdrivers on planes. Please voice your opinions on this, and if anyone knows a way you guys can sign it, I would appreciate it. Also, this is my first petition, if anyone has some suggestions it would be much appreciated.





To Whom It May Concern:

Recently I saw a news article saying that the TSA is relaxing security in airports. I looked it up online and the announcement says this ‘Beginning December 22, scissors with a cutting edge of four inches or less and tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers smaller than seven inches will be permitted on board.’ This is unacceptable. Scissors with a cutting edge of 4’’ have the capacity to kill someone. The same goes for the screwdrivers. I know people would rather take extra time to screen for these very real, very dangerous threats. You seem to forget what the terrorists on September 11th used to take over the four planes; box cutters. Imagine what they could do with scissors, which, when broken, are equal in lethality to something like a dagger Here below are the signatures of people who agree that this policy needs to be changed, in order to maintain safe air travel. I hope you consider what importance this has on our air safety.

 

[DarkSideMoon]

Bumping.....

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Actually it really hasn't been fully enforced up to now anyway. I travel with musicians and sound engineers a good bit who keep wire clippers and other tools in their guitar cases and brief cases. We take about 100 flights a year within the US and were never ONCE questioned about any of these tools. I can remember more than once though having lighters and fingernail clippers (the kind with the fold out pointy metal emery board) confiscated from the band.

 

[DarkSideMoon]

Honestly, TSA is a joke. My dad worked for an airline since before 9-11, and still does, and every once in a while the TSA manager will ask him to try bring some sort of fake weapon past security. 9.10 times they would miss some sort of knife, and like 3/19 times they would miss a gun...... scary....

 

[safetymom]

Screening for banned items is a joke. I carry a pair of small plastic kids scissors with me for work. Every so often I am stopped for the scissors. Those scissors wouldn't hurt anyone. They need to tighten up screening for things more dangerous than plastic scissors or tools.

 

[bicker]

There were many discussions after 9/11 about TSA, and many people at that time objected to many of the rules. The explanation to them then was that whether or not any specific rule actually thwarted specific terrorists wasn't the point: Rather, what mattered was the positive impact the rules have on the flying public sense of confidence. What we're seeing now is a reflection of the fact that the flying public doesn't need all those rules any longer to feel comfortable flying.

 

[Puffy2]

There were many discussions after 9/11 about TSA, and many people at that time objected to many of the rules. The explanation to them then was that whether or not any specific rule actually thwarted specific terrorists wasn't the point: Rather, what mattered was the positive impact the rules have on the flying public sense of confidence. What we're seeing now is a reflection of the fact that the flying public doesn't need all those rules any longer to feel comfortable flying

Have to agree with this - the actions of our government in the "war on terror" aren't really to make the American people any safer - their aim is simply to make the American people "feel" safer.

We have huge gapeing holes in our national security that the feds are well aware of, but have absolutely no intention whatsoever in addressing.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Sorry - I cannot sign your petition because because I do not believe in it. Your hands can be used as a weapon, a pencil can be used as a weapon.

I think you are wasting a lot of energy on something that has no benefit.

 

[bicker]

Have to agree with this - the actions of our government in the "war on terror" aren't really to make the American people any safer - their aim is simply to make the American people "feel" safer.

We have huge gapeing holes in our national security that the feds are well aware of, but have absolutely no intention whatsoever in addressing.

I wouldn't draw any such implication. What the government does to assuage fears has no impact on what the government does to actually fight terrorism. As you can well imagine, it is much better off if the general public does not know what they're actually doing in that regard.

 

[Puffy2]

Well, we all know that they haven't secured that huge gapeing hole in the South where thousands cross over into this country every year (anyone think that not a single "terrorist" is in the mix?)

And it's been show that weapons grade materials are unprotected at several of our major universities. (a bunch of college kids doing their own documentary got access to it without any problem at all)

And our pipelines and tank farms housing enough oil/gas to blow a crater in the ground and, worse, bring our economy to a screeching hault for 6 months to a year while they try to repair the damage - aren't being protected.

If we put a lot of thought and effort into it, I'm sure we could come up with a huge list of examples.

Whereas I think our government IS making attempts in some areas to keep us "safe" - I think most of it is window dressing.

 

[bicker]

Well, we all know that they haven't secured that huge gapeing hole in the South where thousands cross over into this country every year (anyone think that not a single "terrorist" is in the mix?)

Yet not one of the 9/11 terrorists came into the country that way. I would bet that there are a whole lot more ways for such folks to get into the country, ways that are easier for them, and less costly for us to address. So, if that's the case, it makes sense to address the more important targets first. I know CNN's Dobbs loves harping on this pet peeve, blowing the risk out of proportion to make his personal priority sound more important than it is, at the expense of things he doesn't know about because they're secret. (News people hate the fact that some things aren't available for them to know.) It is no better than what some of Fox's talking heads do on the other side of the aisle.

And it's been show that weapons grade materials are unprotected at several of our major universities. (a bunch of college kids doing their own documentary got access to it without any problem at all)

Which is a good for-instance. Now the challenge is how to gain control over that, without ripping up the Constitution completely. What legislation has been offered in that regard?

Whereas I think our government IS making attempts in some areas to keep us "safe" - I think most of it is window dressing.

Yet they have the advantage of being relatively inexpensive, comparatively unassailably Constitutional, and extremely effective for what they're intended.

 

[va32h]

Sorry - I cannot sign your petition because because I do not believe in it. Your hands can be used as a weapon, a pencil can be used as a weapon.

And more importantly, the 9-11 terrorists had the weapon of surprise. The passengers on those airplanes did not know what their intended use was - except Flight 93, whose passengers fought back. Is there any doubt that if an other US airplane is hijacked, the passengers won't fight for their lives?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

One doesn't need to be genius to figure out how to use the most common items as a weapon. A sharp pencil or even a plastic ball-point pen can become a weapon but we don't ban those items. While I may not agree with everything the TSA does, I do understand that they must focus on an enormous screening process and that eliminating some items from the list may be essential to help them do a better job screening.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

The TSA is the most worthless agency ever created. The only petition I will sign with regard to the TSA is one asking for it to be disbanded.

 

[Chicago526]

I almost pity the person that tries to pull a knife on a flight these days. At best they'll be trused up like a Thanksgiving Day turkey and thrown in the rear lavatory until the plane lands and the Feds haul him away. At worst, the Feds will take him away in a body bag.

Think about it, if someone stood up and held the weapon to the neck of a Flight Attendant, what do you think most of the guys (and some of the women!) would do? Meekly submit and let the terrorist in to the cockpit? Heck no, they'd tackle him!

It worked on 9/11 because at the time, airline personel were taught to cooperate with hijackers, because up until that day, hijackers just wanted hostages so they could make political points and/or free thier "fellow brothers" from what ever prisons they'd landed in. Policies and attitudes have changed.

The real danger to aircraft are guns and bombs. A gun being fired could punch a whole in the fuselage, causing an explosive decompresion (not good) and a bomb, well, I don't have to explain that one! I'd rather TSA focus their attention on weapons that can actually bring the plane down or kill dozens of people on the flight, than look for pocket knives and screwdrivers.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I will say that the TSA is expensive window dressing employing a lot of people without one lick of common sense (I swear they are robots), and leave it at that.

 

[Pamlur]

I agree with Miss Jasmine, and I am as convinced as she is.

Everything TSA does is an "afterthought". People on airplanes wouldn't be caught by surprise again, and not react to somebody holding a knife. It's shutting the barn door after all the livestock is long gone, folks.

 

[wvjules]

I wonder when I'l be able to get my lighter privileges back!?!?!

 

[MinnieM21]

Screening for banned items is a joke. I carry a pair of small plastic kids scissors with me for work. Every so often I am stopped for the scissors. Those scissors wouldn't hurt anyone. They need to tighten up screening for things more dangerous than plastic scissors or tools.

I completely agree with you on tightening up screening for more dangerous objects. I've been stopped for small plastic kids scissors too and those scissors can't hurt anyone.
Also, I take my nebulizer with me when I travel for my asthma and I can't believe that security still doesn't know what it is. Out of all the times I've traveled, I've only come across one person who knew that it was for asthma (at MCO). The others look at it with a puzzled look and ask me what it is and they still don't understand.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Also, I take my nebulizer with me when I travel for my asthma and I can't believe that security still doesn't know what it is. Out of all the times I've traveled, I've only come across one person who knew that it was for asthma (at MCO). The others look at it with a puzzled look and ask me what it is and they still don't understand.

A nebulizer is probably not something they encounter on a regular basis.