TSA May Loosen Ban on Razorblades, Knives

By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer

Sunday, August 14, 2005

(08-14) 13:51 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

The federal agency in charge of aviation security is considering major changes in how it screens airline passengers, including proposals that an official said would lift the ban on carrying razorblades and small knives as well as limit patdown searches.

The Transportation Security Administration will meet later this month to discuss the plan, which is designed to reduce checkpoint hassles for the nation's 2 million passengers. It comes after TSA's new head, Edmund S. "Kip" Hawley, called for a broad review in hopes of making airline screening more passenger-friendly.

An initial set of staff recommendations drafted Aug. 5 also proposes that passengers no longer have to routinely remove their shoes during security checks. Instead, only passengers who set off metal detectors, are flagged by a computer screening system or look "reasonably suspicious" would be asked to do so, a TSA official said Saturday.

Any of the changes proposed by the staff, which also would allow scissors, ice picks and bows and arrows on flights, would require Hawley's approval, this official said, requesting anonymity because there has been no final decision.

"The process is designed to stimulate creative thinking and challenge conventional beliefs," said Mark Hatfield, TSA's spokesman. "In the end, it will allow us to work smarter and better as we secure America's transportation system."

The Aug. 5 memo recommends reducing patdowns by giving screeners the discretion not to search those wearing tight-fitting clothes. It also suggests exempting several categories of passengers from screening, including federal judges, members of Congress, Cabinet members, state governors, high-ranking military officers and those with high-level security clearances.

The proposed changes were first reported by The Washington Post on Saturday.

AGNTSA, dupe, IBTL, pie, etc.

Kharn

absurd.

I have to fight with a supervisor in order to carry on a monopod and a dry battery.

It comes after TSA's new head, Edmund S. "Kip" Hawley, called for a broad review in hopes of making airline screening more passenger-friendly.

Perhaps we should just focus on making it more terrorist-unfriendly.

Quoted: The Aug. 5 memo recommends reducing patdowns by giving screeners the discretion not to search those wearing tight-fitting clothes. It also suggests exempting several categories of passengers from screening, including federal judges, members of Congress, Cabinet members, state governors, high-ranking military officers and those with high-level security clearances.

Well I guess I know why there doing this now.  I couldn't see any logical reason for it.  Well I guess they can't beb othered by the little people anymore.

I talked to a TSA guy yesterday and he said there's no way they'll let blades on board again.  He also said there is someone with a gun on every flight in the US.  I called BS because I have a relative that's an air marshal and he says there is not one on every flight.

Duplicate post

Scumbags already messed up the airline industry and with London they are gonna mess up the train and bus system, when the bad guys start using car bombs you won't be able to start your car with out being searched....

Quoted: I called BS because I have a relative that's an air marshal and he says there is not one on every flight.

+1 to that. One of our techs in the dept is an AM, and he's told me the same....

The Aug. 5 memo recommends reducing patdowns by giving screeners the discretion not to search those wearing tight-fitting clothes. It also suggests exempting several categories of passengers from screening, including federal judges, members of Congress, Cabinet members, state governors, high-ranking military officers and those with high-level security clearances.

LOL.... how are these Barney-Fife SS-wannabe's going to verify this? Half of them couldn't get the
clearance to be a dog-catcher (unless they've really upped their standards here lately), so how are
they supposed to be verifying this?

Quoted: Quoted: I called BS because I have a relative that's an air marshal and he says there is not one on every flight. +1 to that. One of our techs in the dept is an AM, and he's told me the same.... The Aug. 5 memo recommends reducing patdowns by giving screeners the discretion not to search those wearing tight-fitting clothes. It also suggests exempting several categories of passengers from screening, including federal judges, members of Congress, Cabinet members, state governors, high-ranking military officers and those with high-level security clearances. LOL.... how are these Barney-Fife SS-wannabe's going to verify this? Half of them couldn't get the clearance to be a dog-catcher (unless they've really upped their standards here lately), so how are they supposed to be verifying this?

I was wondering that too, it's not like there's an ID card or special hand shake when you get a clearance.

My niece is defending a school teacher being prosecuted for bringing a letter opener (described as a switchbladein her carryon.  It was a gift from her grandmother and overlooked according to the teacher but they are proceeding to prosecute her because she would not plead guilty to lessor charges.  It was in a segment of the Ken and John radio talk show on KFI last week.  I think the usefullness of "no tolerance" is being tested, and as much by selective prosecution as anything.  I'm betting on my niece.