A big hat tip to Gizmodo… This is probably the single best indictment of the TSAs “things” mentality I’ve ever seen:
Heh, I’m not the least bit surprised the TSA missed those blades… much of what they is a sort of Kabuki theater that’s destined to fail far more often than they’d to like admit.
Mr. Savage’s experience highlights the fallacy of TSA’s things mentality, real security doesn’t waste time trying to stop honest, law abiding citizens like Mr. Savage from getting on an airplane with a pair of nail clippers, or Leatherman multi-tool, or a pair of 12″ foam cutter blades for that matter. Simply possessing a thing doesn’t not make you a terrorist or a threat to the aircraft… It’s what you intend to do with them that does. Real security screening has to be people focused.
As I noted yesterday at least one of the 911 hijackers, Mohammed Atta, did a dry run before the actual attack, one has to wonder if we might have been able to prevent those attacks if we had focused on identifying potential threats and subjecting them to heightened scrutiny rather than taking away Aunt Edna’s knitting needles.
Let me be perfectly clear here: I’m not saying we should let people carrying explosives or firearms onto airplanes… Commonsense would tell you that’s bad idea. But so is stripping honest, law abiding citizens of their nail clippers. As Deirdre Walker explains the heavy handed, inconsistent approach of the TSA is pushing us toward a public rebellion or a terrorist attack.
Related
- Against advice, TSA chief didn’t warn public about pat-downs – Tony Pugh, McClatchy Newspapers
- The Revolt Against the TSA: It’s the Election, Part 2 – John Podhoretz, Commentary
- TSA employee accused of kidnap, assault – La Grange News
- Next step for body scanners could be trains, boats, metro – The Hill
- TSA Troubles – National Review Online
- Poll: Majority oppose body scans, nearly half seek alternative to flying – Raw Story
- TSA urges Thanksgiving airport security compliance – Associated Press