Put that Knife Back in Your Pocket

A few years ago, someone sent me a little knife that, when you push a lever, the blade flies from inside the stock. It is a wicked little weapon that I had put away and forgot about. I found it during my annual office spring cleaning.

The timing for this discovery couldn’t have been better. TSA had just announced its new policy allowing such items to be carried on airplanes. "Really?" I asked myself. I can legally carry this 2.36-inch weapon on a flight?

I walked out of my office to conduct a survey among co-workers. I asked them to watch as I sprung the loaded blade from its case. “I can carry this on an airplane now. Do you think that is a good idea?” I asked.

TSA has bumbled along for years, getting away with incompetency and bullying, but this idea is the worst yet. My knife is small, but it is lethal and deadly. I put it right back where I found it, in a credenza drawer.

Flight attendants, pilots and federal air marshals are part of the backlash to the TSA’s new policy for allowing passengers to carry small knives and sports equipment like souvenir baseball bats and golf clubs on a flight. Now, who knows more about airline safety and security than this group?

The TSA had this to say about the new policy:

“Through TSA’s layered approach to security, and to align more closely with International Civil Aviation Organization standards, effective April 25, 2013 TSA will allow knives that do not lock, and have blades that are 2.36 inches or 6 centimeters or less in length and are less than 1/2 inch in width, novelty-sized and toy bats, billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks and two golf clubs as part of their carry-on baggage. 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.”

(TSA provided Security Today with the following video to demonstrate what an explosive is capable of.)

What is a higher threat item? Weren’t the box cutters in 2001 a high enough threat to warrant this policy stay in effect? What is the purpose of more closely aligning ourselves with International Civil Aviation Organizations? We are the United States. We have our own rules and regulations.

The Flight Attendants Union Coalition, which represents nearly 90,000 flight attendants, is coordinating a nationwide legislative and public awareness campaign to reverse the policy and prevent knives from being allowed on planes.

“Our nation’s aviation system is the safest in the world thanks to multilayered security measures that include prohibition on many items that could pose a threat to the integrity of the aircraft cabin,” FAUC said in a statement. “The continued ban on dangerous objects is an integral layer in aviation security and must remain in place.”

Well said, but it is really disturbing that TSA seemingly did not consult with other stakeholders, such as the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, of which federal air marshals are included. FLEOA is asking Congress to block the policy change.

The pilots’ association adamantly opposes this move, saying, “We believe the (terrorism) threat is still real and the removal of any layer of security will put crewmembers and the flying public unnecessarily in harm’s way.”

The events of 9/11 forever changed the way travelers plan their flights. Most have security foremost in their minds. There are, of course, a few that “forget” they have a loaded gun in their carry-on luggage, and it’s for this reason that allowing passengers to carry knives, sports equipment and other items in question shouldn’t occur.

Aviation security is neither terrorist-proof nor is it psycho-proof, but travelers must be protected. Given recent violence and terrorism in the United States, this poorly designed policy change benefits no one. It seems TSA’s only concern is protecting the cockpit of an airplane, but is the flying public expendable, disposable and irrelevant to air travel safety?

“We don’t see how these changes support this priority,” said Joe Strickland, head of American operations for Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, a leading global aviation insurer. “Safety is the highest priority of every commercial air carrier, flight crew member and air traffic controller.”

The true security plan lies within the confines of the aircraft cabin. Reinforced cockpit doors and passengers who have taken matters into their own hands have thwarted the acts of aberrant, abusive passengers.

The industry in general disagrees with the policy change, and some members of Congress are urging TSA Administrator John Pistole to drop the proposal, warning that if he doesn’t, Congress may take steps to block it. TSA is saying it must focus on new threats, which doesn’t mean the old threats don’t exist. There are plenty of things on a flight that could be used to hurt anyone. There is no reason to add more.

For me, it is real simple. If you give someone 2.36 inches, they are likely to take 2.36 miles. For TSA to add a few potential weapons only means trouble. People don’t need to carry this junk on board. There are already too many bags, briefcases and laptops to make the flight uncomfortable.

For security’s sake, leave your knives at home.

This article originally appeared in the May 2013 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.