TSA Delays New Ruling Allowing Small Knives on U.S. Airliners

If you were excited about being able bring your small pocket knife on your next flight, you may want to sit down. Many of you know that the Transportation Security Administration recently made an announcement saying they would allow certain small knives aboard commercial flights starting April 25th, 2013.

That decisions is currently on hold indefinitely.  

This news came just a few days before the new rule would have gone into effect. The TSA made the following statement on their website:

“In order to accommodate further input from the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC), which includes representatives from the aviation community, passenger advocates, law enforcement experts, and other stakeholders, TSA will temporarily delay implementation of changes to the Prohibited Items List, originally scheduled to go into effect April 25. This timing will enable TSA to incorporate the ASAC’s feedback about the changes to the Prohibited Items List and continue workforce training.”

John S. Pistole, the T.S.A. administrator, has stated, “A small pocketknife is simply not going to result in the catastrophic failure of an aircraft.” [CNN]

Many groups have been calling for the repeal of this new rule stating that allowing small knives on planes will cause longer security lines and increase potential hazards for everyone.

The TSA replied: “This is part of an overall Risk-Based Security approach, which allows Transportation Security Officers to better focus their efforts on finding higher threat items such as explosives.” [ABC]

Arizona Representative Matt Salmon just wrote a  Dear Colleague letter that puts things nicely:

[Click here to download the original PDF]

Fight For Your Knife Rights

Write your Representative and Senators in support of the TSA’s allowance of knives on planes  and let’s keep up the pressure to make this a reality!

• Find and contact your Representative here: house.gov
• Find and contact your Senators here: senate.gov
• Become a member of the American Knife & Tool Institute
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