Knives on Planes

MommyLiberty5013

Starting April 25th, the TSA will permit small Swiss Army type knives, with blades no longer than 2.36 inches, on board planes.

Thought that was interesting.

LuckyDad

Probably a good change, considering cockpit doors are now secure.

MommyLiberty5013

I was thinking that too...so many people carry tiny knives on their key chains and I assume it's a pain to have to remember to remove them prior to an airport visit.

Some of the SWA flight attendants/their union are/is up in arms over this.

The blades in those types of knives are sooo tiny. Let's not forget that they do serve real metal flatware in first/business class, including knives.

So, I'm not sure what the issue is here.

NastyAnnie

The issue is paranoia, mostly. 

 

And, I mean, the ridiculousness that is flying, in general. We can get rape-a-scanned, children are patted down for weapons, we can't take more than 4oz of liquid on board, but now we can have knives? Sure, they are small knives, probably better for cleaning under your nails than actually stabbing someone, but still! KNIVES!!!11!!12

 

You get it. 

LuckyDad

NastyAnnie:

The issue is paranoia, mostly. 

And, I mean, the ridiculousness that is flying, in general. We can get rape-a-scanned, children are patted down for weapons, we can't take more than 4oz of liquid on board, but now we can have knives? Sure, they are small knives, probably better for cleaning under your nails than actually stabbing someone, but still! KNIVES!!!11!!12

You get it. 

I seriously hate the TSA. I wish we could go all "Small Government" on it, and I'm a bleeding heart liberal who thinks government is often better than the free market at providing services. But I also tend to value liberty over security.

Personally (and somewhat selfishly) I think parents traveling with small children should get a pass at security. To date, no terrorist has been monstrous enough to commit an act of terrorism while traveling with their child, and based on what tends to motivate such acts, it's unlikely it will ever happen. I feel the same way about the elderly. Profiling isn't always a good thing, but there's some cases where it's useful and reasonable and not really discrimination. No one complains too loud when the very old or very young get special treatment.

MommyLiberty5013

I am not a fan of inconsistency and the TSA is inconsistent. On their website, they say they permit butter knives with rounded ends. Well, if this is the case, how come after years of travel with it in his bag, a TSA agent took DH's butter knife from him in line while he was in his pilot uniform and traveling for work??

BTW, he had one in his bag to go with the foods he carries. To eat healthy and save money he brings a lot of food with him instead of eating airport stuff and dining out on overnights.

Edited to add: The TSA website states they also permit screwdrivers with ends no longer than 7 inches!!!!!!! Oh, so that's not a weapon??? Someone could totally stab and kill someone with a 6.5 inch screwdriver. But we are just now letting knives with 2.36 inch blades on board? Inconsistent.

missymo

MommyLiberty5013:

I am not a fan of inconsistency and the TSA is inconsistent. On their website, they say they permit butter knives with rounded ends. Well, if this is the case, how come after years of travel with it in his bag, a TSA agent took DH's butter knife from him in line while he was in his pilot uniform and traveling for work??

BTW, he had one in his bag to go with the foods he carries. To eat healthy and save money he brings a lot of food with him instead of eating airport stuff and dining out on overnights.

Edited to add: The TSA website states they also permit screwdrivers with ends no longer than 7 inches!!!!!!! Oh, so that's not a weapon??? Someone could totally stab and kill someone with a 6.5 inch screwdriver. But we are just now letting knives with 2.36 inch blades on board? Inconsistent.

That is one of my biggest gripes too.  The inconsistency! And so many personnel seem poorly trained.  The TSA blows.  

lasposa425

missymo:

MommyLiberty5013:

I am not a fan of inconsistency and the TSA is inconsistent. On their website, they say they permit butter knives with rounded ends. Well, if this is the case, how come after years of travel with it in his bag, a TSA agent took DH's butter knife from him in line while he was in his pilot uniform and traveling for work??

BTW, he had one in his bag to go with the foods he carries. To eat healthy and save money he brings a lot of food with him instead of eating airport stuff and dining out on overnights.

Edited to add: The TSA website states they also permit screwdrivers with ends no longer than 7 inches!!!!!!! Oh, so that's not a weapon??? Someone could totally stab and kill someone with a 6.5 inch screwdriver. But we are just now letting knives with 2.36 inch blades on board? Inconsistent.

That is one of my biggest gripes too.  The inconsistency! And so many personnel seem poorly trained.  The TSA blows.  

Yep! The inconsistencies make no sense to me.  Absolutely no sense.  

LuckyDad

missymo:

 The inconsistency! And so many personnel seem poorly trained.  The TSA blows.  

They're poorly trained because they're poorly paid. It's a terrible job. I'm sure there's high turnover. 

GeraldoRivera

You can have knives, but not shampoo. Makes a lot of sense.

GeraldoRivera

LuckyDad:

missymo:

 The inconsistency! And so many personnel seem poorly trained.  The TSA blows.  

They're poorly trained because they're poorly paid. It's a terrible job. I'm sure there's high turnover. 

Actually, the pay is much better than what people with those qualifications would be making anywhere else. It starts at about $30,000 and goes up to $45,000 for screeners. And you only need a GED and a (mostly) clean background check to get hired. Where else is someone with a GED going to be making $30k? 

 

But when you hire people who aren't qualified to do anything but work the register at Wendy's, you're going to get that kind of quality workforce. And you can't be surprised when you get these kind of results. 

 

missymo

LuckyDad:

missymo:

 The inconsistency! And so many personnel seem poorly trained.  The TSA blows.  

They're poorly trained because they're poorly paid. It's a terrible job. I'm sure there's high turnover. 

Truth.  Low pay, sub-par training, inconsistent application of regulations, and lax hiring standards all contribute to why the TSA blows.  Plus other sh!t, I'm sure. 

missymo

GeraldoRivera:

LuckyDad:

missymo:

 The inconsistency! And so many personnel seem poorly trained.  The TSA blows.  

They're poorly trained because they're poorly paid. It's a terrible job. I'm sure there's high turnover. 

Actually, the pay is much better than what people with those qualifications would be making anywhere else. It starts at about $30,000 and goes up to $45,000 for screeners. And you only need a GED and a (mostly) clean background check to get hired. Where else is someone with a GED going to be making $30k? 

 

But when you hire people who aren't qualified to do anything but work the register at Wendy's, you're going to get that kind of quality workforce. And you can't be surprised when you get these kind of results. 

 

Interesting! I take back my agreement about low pay contributing, then.  

Anecdotally, I have had many a sh!t job, and I always performed to the best of my ability.  Always.  And I earned a hell of a lot less than $30,000/year.  It really means nothing in this context, but when I hear that low pay = shitty work ethic, it does come to mind. 

  

MommyLiberty5013

missymo:

GeraldoRivera:

LuckyDad:

missymo:

 The inconsistency! And so many personnel seem poorly trained.  The TSA blows.  

They're poorly trained because they're poorly paid. It's a terrible job. I'm sure there's high turnover. 

Actually, the pay is much better than what people with those qualifications would be making anywhere else. It starts at about $30,000 and goes up to $45,000 for screeners. And you only need a GED and a (mostly) clean background check to get hired. Where else is someone with a GED going to be making $30k? 

But when you hire people who aren't qualified to do anything but work the register at Wendy's, you're going to get that kind of quality workforce. And you can't be surprised when you get these kind of results. 

 

Interesting! I take back my agreement about low pay contributing, then.  

Anecdotally, I have had many a sh!t job, and I always performed to the best of my ability.  Always.  And I earned a hell of a lot less than $30,000/year.  It really means nothing in this context, but when I hear that low pay = shitty work ethic, it does come to mind. 

  

You have high standards for yourself. It's really rare these days. I too understand what you're saying...I have had a few low-paying jobs as well and I wanted to do a good job becauee that's the right thing to do and I want to go home at night from my low-paying job knowing that I did the best I could. I guess it's a pride thing? I don't know.

Cnon

MommyLiberty5013:

I am not a fan of inconsistency and the TSA is inconsistent. On their website, they say they permit butter knives with rounded ends. Well, if this is the case, how come after years of travel with it in his bag, a TSA agent took DH's butter knife from him in line while he was in his pilot uniform and traveling for work??

BTW, he had one in his bag to go with the foods he carries. To eat healthy and save money he brings a lot of food with him instead of eating airport stuff and dining out on overnights.

Edited to add: The TSA website states they also permit screwdrivers with ends no longer than 7 inches!!!!!!! Oh, so that's not a weapon??? Someone could totally stab and kill someone with a 6.5 inch screwdriver. But we are just now letting knives with 2.36 inch blades on board? Inconsistent.

 

 

Consistently has never been their strong suit, has it?

Cnon