FAA Bans ALL Knives ...

Originally posted by Crayola
PLEASE write your Congressmen and remind them that it was the BOMB threats that allowed hijackers to take over, not so much box cutting knives.
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Unfortunately, they reportedly got the pilots out of the cockpits by immediately killing stewardesses with their improvised razor blade knives (blade length < 1.5", for everybody who thinks they need a pocket sword to do adequate damage).

Again, the same thing could have been done with a fork. Or a credit card. Or a broken water glass. Or the metal frame from a pair of sunglasses. Or....
 
You folks, more than most, should understand
it's not about knives; it's about control.
Yet with only a couple of exceptions, you seem
accepting of it.

Why is that?

If you aren't willing to fight the battle, then
who? If not now, then when?
 
Hey, I have a solution... ARM THE PILOTS!! Even Rent-A-Cops carry pistols, why not pilots? It makes absolute complete sense to require pilots to carry handguns onboard aircraft. The only way you can stop a madman who is trying to end his life for his cause (and end yours too) is to take his first.

--Matt
 
The last time I came to the States I brought two knives with me, a small Wenger SAK which I took in my hand luggage, and a larger SAK, the "Hunter" model which I kept in my suitcase. I bought three knives during my stay and put them in the suitcase for the return trip. I had no problems with security. Now I won't be able to buy any knives on my foreign trips ( I buy them as souveniers ) This won't stop terrorists only the law abiding passengers, it's the same with gun control. :(

By the way. We British share your grief. You will not be beaten by these murderers. Britain and the US will fight side by side, until we rid the world of these scum. Give um HELL Yanks!
 
This ban is total BS :barf: but the government and most of US society (that I've run across or worked with outside of the Navy & gun/knife forums of course) believes that weapons create criminals. Common sense should tell you this isn't true. Instead of knives or box cutters their weapons could have been a multitude of items as mentioned.

It is shameful to try and lay blame on knives or the law abiding knife carriers, but general society will swallow it hook line and sinker because they want to be baby sat. They don't want to bother to think for themselves or accept the personal responsibility of self-defense.

I think it is true if more passengers had been carrying knives these terrorist could have been easily taken down. Although with the odds this could've been done empty handed too. I agree with the mother I saw on TV whose son told her he was going to do something about the terrorist act going on onboard (along with the gentleman beside him) the plane over his cell phone. She stated, and I agree, she thinks her son is a hero! I hope she continues to feel that way since that plane went down in the PA. woods. That decision ended his life, but saved countless innocent others.
 
Originally posted by TW-Knife

I think it is true if more passengers had been carrying knives these terrorist could have been easily taken down.
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You think that a knife would allow the average citizen to overpower and disarm a terrorist who is trained in hand-to-hand combat, possibly battle experienced, and already committed to dying? Believing that a knife makes people into super heroes is just as wrong as believing that it makes people into terrorists. To be honest, an average person going one-on-one would probably wind up just providing the hijacker with another knife.

Belts, neckties, and shoes would be just as effective as a knife if people had the proper training, and more importantly, the proper mindset to defend themselves. To be honest, just a crush of 5 unarmed people would easily overpower a single person. That's nearly a half ton of weight. But someone would probably get hurt - and it's sad how few people would stand up to be at the front of that crush, taking the blow that would enable everyone else to be safe.
 
I am an AIRPORT FIREFIGHTER, and was told today that I can not carry my pocketknifes while on duty. They said since those people were killed with knives that they were dangerous. Sheeple, cant live with them, cant work with them.
 
Originally posted by prowlngrowl
I am an AIRPORT FIREFIGHTER, and was told today that I can not carry my pocketknifes while on duty. They said since those people were killed with knives that they were dangerous. Sheeple, cant live with them, cant work with them.
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I hope you never need a knife to save someones life!
 
Here in CA, local airport rep. really emphasized the no knife rule on camera. He took out a small green SAK, opened it and said this is a no no.
 
Jacknife:

I think the ban will apply to 'carry on' only, you should still be able to export.

prowlngrowl:

what the Magician said



From the MSNBC site:

When they arrive at airports, passengers will find security at its highest level since the Persian Gulf War in 1991. For example, according to transportation, airline and airport officials:

Thorough searches of all planes and airports

No curbside check-ins, nor check-ins at hotels and other off-airport sites.

Allowing only passengers to pass through security checkpoints to gates.

A ban on all knives and other cutting instruments, including plastic.

Uniformed police patrolling airports.

Searches of flight crews, service personnel and vendors.

Checks of passengers, using hand-held metal detectors.

Armed sky marshals aboard airplanes.


Although I do not know the exact details of how the hijackers managed to take the planes, the only one of the above measures that would significantly impact another attempt at this type of action, in my opinion, is the deployment of armed Sky Marshals. This has its own problems and could still be circumvented by using more terrorists on each plane, some of whom are sleepers.

They really need to think about flight deck security, perhaps using a 'mantrap' access system, armed flight crew and strict protocols for flight deck access. (ie. Cabin crew and passengers must hold no value as hostages in the case of any hijacking) Its more complicated than this but its a start.
 
Brian_Turner,
You think that a knife would allow the average citizen to overpower and disarm a terrorist who is trained in hand-to-hand combat, possibly battle experienced, and already committed to dying?
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Did you read the rest of my post??? Two men empty handed (meaning no weapons) and untrained in any self defense (according to his mother) did it on the plane that crashed in PA. So YES I do believe a knife could've helped them, but they didn't need one evidently. And if several (see the word more) men had knives on any of the planes I believe they could've overtaken your so-called trained terrorist. Since two men managed it without weapons I wouldn't assume they all were trained in mortal combat anyways.

Nor, anywhere did I state a knife makes you superman or the likes and how you concluded so??? I simply stated my opinion that the use of a personal knife would've provided an advantage compared to not having one as stated in other post.
 
Originally posted by Brian_Turner


You think that a knife would allow the average citizen to overpower and disarm a terrorist who is trained in hand-to-hand combat, possibly battle experienced, and already committed to dying? Believing that a knife makes people into super heroes is just as wrong as believing that it makes people into terrorists. To be honest, an average person going one-on-one would probably wind up just providing the hijacker with another knife.

Belts, neckties, and shoes would be just as effective as a knife if people had the proper training, and more importantly, the proper mindset to defend themselves. To be honest, just a crush of 5 unarmed people would easily overpower a single person. That's nearly a half ton of weight. But someone would probably get hurt - and it's sad how few people would stand up to be at the front of that crush, taking the blow that would enable everyone else to be safe.
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Brian,

I am certainly not a trained knife fighter, though I do have a bit of training. I've also carried a good 3.5" plain edged blade liner lock folder on every flight I've taken in June, July and August. I'd like to think that 4 or 5 folks like me on each flight would have made a difference (also would be > .5 tons). Would like to think folks facing death will attack the terrorists with determination and risk getting cut. Agree that ties, belts, canes, and blankets can be effective weapons. The key point, expressed in your thread and many other threads on Bladeforums, is mind set. The right mind set, backed by good training, can produce a formidable opponent.

In a parking lot, I'd run if possible. On a plane, your only chance to live is to win. That'd motivate a lot of us.

Please feel free to tell me if the above is a lot of wanabee baloney.

Alan
 
No, it's not wanna be baloney. If the passengers knew that this was a suicide mission they may have had a chance to overcome the hijackers. A simple hijacking with a chance for rescue is a different matter.
 
Having people armed with handguns on board airplanes hold its own danger... Cabins are presuurized. Sudden loss of cabin pressure can cause an aircraft to crash...
As far as carrying knives, this will be an inconvenience, but not impossible. I understand that they can still be brought, but not in carry-on luggage.
Another thing I saw on CNN is that passengers without luggage will no longer be allowed to go straight to the gate (even through security). Thus, the advantage with only going with carry-on luggage has been largely eliminated.
I generally travel light (a day or so) and generally only take carry-on luggage to speed through the airport.
What does eliminating curbside luggage check accomplish? :confused:
Rob
 
Bobby - the answer to that is subsonic, frangible rounds in the handguns. These types of bullets (like Glazer Safety Slugs, for example) enter a body and immediately fragment, doing two things: causing more internal damage, and not exiting the target to possibly harm a passenger or the aircraft. If Sky Marshals ARE reimplimented, their training should begin and end with military SpecOps personnel (Delta, the SEAL Teams, etc.) By training with these people, they would get the things they need to have to react in a high pressure, life threatening situation. No disrespect to any LEOs out there! All I'm saying is, the SpecOps guys are specifically trained for this type of thing, and have been for quite some time.
 
Knee-jerk reaction IMHO, and useless to boot. If a terrorist wants to get a sharp object on a plane do you think that this will stop him? There are many materials that could be used that will not be detected.
 
Sky Marshals have not been disbanded and thus don't need to be reimplemented. They do need to be beefed up in terms of manpower and funding, however.

You'd be surprised at the level of training they get. Impressive.
I don't think that that information is public, though.
 
Seems like it would be a lot safer for everyone if we just handcuffed all males at the curb of the airport. Na, that might not work either because the female extremists would take advantage of the handcuffed males. Even if it did work someone would dress up as a woman and pretty soon they would have to handcuff everyone anyway and I guess things would become unworkable again. It all sounds sexist anyway, the women would have to help the men with just about everything. How about Pilot controlled shock collars for everyone? ;)

Arming everyone is not a total solution, disarming everyone is not a total solution. There is not a total solution. But I do want my freedom back until I have acted in a way to lose it.

Maybe we should actively pursue helping in situations where someone is willing to take their own life for their cause and help them solve the root problem. I don't think all the laws in the world will keep such people from committing damage. The people of the world could right an awful lot of wrongs for the price we pay for terrorism.

Just a few thoughts...
 
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