Finally the TSA have employed a braincell.
From December 22nd, the TSA is going to stop treating people like criminals if they're carring scissors, small blades or wrenches. Those are three of the things which are being taken off the "banned" list. This is A Good Thing because it means they'll be able to spend more time looking for stuff which might be dangerous, and less time arresting people for no reason.
Of course the news agencies got hold of some knee-jerk scared white woman for a quote. The BBC's was one of the best:
"When weapons are allowed back on board an aircraft, the pilots will be able to land the plane safely but the aisles will be running with blood," said Corey Caldwell, a spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants.
Apparently Corey Caldwell isn't too bothered about the axe, the emergency tool, the three oxygen cylinders, the defibrilator, the toilet door handles, the seatback table legs, the aluminium strips in the overhead bins or any of the other multitude of objects that could be used as a weapon that are carried on every single aircraft.
She's obviously not thought about the 100+ explosive cannisters of CO2 that are on board every aircraft in the life vests. Nor the rubber tubing to the oxygen masks which could be used as a garrot. Nor has she spared a moment to think about the galley with its ability to create boiling water. Or the food carts which could be used as battering rams. Corey Caldwell hasn't spent too long looking at the structure of her aircraft either. Sure the cockpit door is armoured, but the sheetrock or fibreboard partition between the front toilet and the cockpit certainly isn't. I reckon with one good kick, you could get through it into the cockpit armed with a piece of broken mirror from the toilet itself.
See this is the problem. People just don't think any more. They see an announcement about something as common sense as scissors being allowed in hand luggage, and they panic without giving it any thought.
Of course the news agencies got hold of some knee-jerk scared white woman for a quote. The BBC's was one of the best:
"When weapons are allowed back on board an aircraft, the pilots will be able to land the plane safely but the aisles will be running with blood," said Corey Caldwell, a spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants.
Apparently Corey Caldwell isn't too bothered about the axe, the emergency tool, the three oxygen cylinders, the defibrilator, the toilet door handles, the seatback table legs, the aluminium strips in the overhead bins or any of the other multitude of objects that could be used as a weapon that are carried on every single aircraft.
She's obviously not thought about the 100+ explosive cannisters of CO2 that are on board every aircraft in the life vests. Nor the rubber tubing to the oxygen masks which could be used as a garrot. Nor has she spared a moment to think about the galley with its ability to create boiling water. Or the food carts which could be used as battering rams. Corey Caldwell hasn't spent too long looking at the structure of her aircraft either. Sure the cockpit door is armoured, but the sheetrock or fibreboard partition between the front toilet and the cockpit certainly isn't. I reckon with one good kick, you could get through it into the cockpit armed with a piece of broken mirror from the toilet itself.
See this is the problem. People just don't think any more. They see an announcement about something as common sense as scissors being allowed in hand luggage, and they panic without giving it any thought.
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