Stops TSA Relaxation Of Post-9/11 Policy
New York Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand joined New Jersey Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez last Wednesday, May 22, in introducing legislation that will prohibit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from allowing airline passengers to carry small knives onto airplanes.
In March, the TSA announced that it would no longer be prohibiting knife blades of 2.36 inches or shorter onboard planes.
“The TSA’s dangerous new policy will put passengers, flight attendants and pilots at risk and we must reverse it to make sure our airplanes are secure,” said Schumer. “Knives should continue to be kept off passenger planes, and this legislation will make sure of that, once and for all.”
“I am deeply concerned the decision made to allow these small knives on planes could put the safety of passengers and flight attendants at risk,” added Gillibrand. “As I advocated to [Homeland Security] Secretary [Janet] Napolitano directly, allowing potentially dangerous weapons anywhere near a plane simply does not make sense. As we’ve repeatedly seen, New York is the number one target for terrorists around the world who want to harm Americans. We must remain vigilant in guarding against attacks and protect New York and our nation.”
On Mar. 28, TSA Administrator John Pistole announced that the agency would allow small knives and blades to be carried onboard airplanes for the first time in nearly 12 years. The TSA has argued that this policy will speed up checkpoint screenings and allow TSA officers to focus on items that cause greater security risks.
The rule was supposed to go into effect on Apr. 25, but on Apr. 22, Pistole announced that implementation would be delayed.
Many organizations and unions have come out against the TSA’s knife policy. These organizations include the Flight Attendants Union Coalition, which represents thousands of flight attendants; the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents federal air marshals; and the Coalition of Airline Pilot Associations.
Additionally, many family members of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks have voiced their opposition to the TSA’s new rule and several major airlines have questioned the policy change.
Over 2,000 knives are reportedly confiscated each day and the senators explained that this legislation will make sure that those 2,000 knives do not make it onboard airplanes.
