New TSA Lighter Policy

[SpyderNoir_JHA]

I didn't see any other threads on this topic, so I thought I'd start one, as I like to spread good news.

As of August 4th of this year, the Transportation Security Administration is allowing lighters other than "torch lighters" to be carried onto airplanes. This means that Zippos, disposable butanes, and similar candle-flame lighters are now okay.


http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/sop/index.shtm

[tvodrd]

So much for all the free Bics waiting on my returns! ;D

Larry

[peacefuljeffrey]

I caught this in the newspaper a while back, too. I am very very glad. Now if only they'd start allowing 3" and under knives, and kubotans! When you think about it, it's pretty idiotic, they'll let a person on with a walking stick / cane, but not a kubotan. DUH!

You know, I read something in the paper months before this decision; some congressman from Bradford, PA (where Zippo is based) was lobbying to change the rules because it was hurting Zippo's (and thus Bradford, PA's) economy when people were more reluctant to buy/bring Zippos while traveling. (The only legal way was in TSA/DOT-approved containers like the one made by Otter Box, and they had to go in checked baggage.)

I found myself wondering where the balance point would be, between those unwilling to buy more Zippos because they couldn't fly with them, and those who would provide Zippo more business because they had to replace confiscated lighters.

Could you imagine if some moronic TSA rule had been able to eventually bankrupt Zippo Inc.?!

[RaceBannonLIVES!]

I caught this in the newspaper a while back, too. I am very very glad. Now if only they'd start allowing 3" and under knives, and kubotans! When you think about it, it's pretty idiotic, they'll let a person on with a walking stick / cane, but not a kubotan. DUH!



PJ, what about the polymer kubotans? EDC Depot has both the pointed and non-pointed versions, which also work as keychains. or is it just the shape that alerts them?

[peacefuljeffrey]

Kubotans are explicitly listed on the prohibited items lists that are available.

I imagine that if you try to get a polymer one on the plane and you are "randomly selected" for a detailed search and they find it, you're in big trouble. More so because it will be evident that you were trying to sneak it by.

As I said, it's stupid to prohibit kubotans when so many other allowable things are easily just as effective as "weapons."

[pu1869]

I

You know, I read something in the paper months before this decision; some congressman from Bradford, PA (where Zippo is based) was lobbying to change the rules because it was hurting Zippo's (and thus Bradford, PA's) economy when people were more reluctant to buy/bring Zippos while traveling. (The only legal way was in TSA/DOT-approved containers like the one made by Otter Box, and they had to go in checked baggage.)



Funny how those politicians spin things, I had read a press release that stated that Zippo was laying off some 700 people because they were getting hurt by Chinese knock offs and the campaign to get people to stop smoking. I guess the TSA is the new target.

[peacefuljeffrey]

The TSA should be targeted.

Like the BATF, it is an unchecked government bureaucracy with unelected power to run roughshod over the Constitution and do all manner of extralegal things.

Liberals must be in a tizzy over them, because on the one hand they love to prohibit even good people from having any weapons whatsoever; but on the other hand they don't give a damn about people's rights or privacy.

[nicknwong]

You can always use a pen as a kubaton. Like the "sharkie" by cold steel. Or really go up a notch and try the hinder ti kubaton pen, it just looks like a crazy pen. Rick Hinderer (http://www.rickhindererknives.com/)

[felder]

Yes because conservatives are all about rights and privacy. After all, we've seen no erosion of rights when we had a republican president and congress. Wiretapping? Habias corpus? Patriot act? Guantanamo? Having to go through all this crap to get on a plane? Proposed national ID card? Proposed defense of marriage act?

Give me a break.

It wasn't liberals who voted these people into office.

I do agree about the prohibition on weapons though. That stinks.



Liberals must be in a tizzy over them, because on the one hand they love to prohibit even good people from having any weapons whatsoever; but on the other hand they don't give a damn about people's rights or privacy.

[parnass]

Let's keep this discussion civil and on topic.

:pt:

[maximus]

I think they changed their minds because it was costing about 4 million a year to dispose of all the confiscated lighters.

"But at least I get the sense they are headed in the right direction. On August 4th, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) once again allowed most types of lighters to be brought on board aircraft. Previously, people got held up – which caused lengthier delays for everyone – because someone forgot to (or purposely left) a lighter inside their carry-on bag. According to the TSA they were confiscating 22,000 lighters a day and disposing them at a cost of $4 million a year. The rub was of course that many people still were able to get them through, rendering the ban useless. Finally some sort of acknowledgement by someone in charge that current security measures are a joke."

from this source: http://www.hotelinteractive.com/hi_index.asp?page_id=5000&article_id=8352

[peacefuljeffrey]

I think that if we're not going to be allowed to respond and rebut the stuff said a few posts up by felder, the right thing to do would be to delete that post. It's inflammatory, and begs for rebuttal that won't be allowed. How about it?

[Lugsalot]

I think that if we're not going to be allowed to respond and rebut the stuff said a few posts up by felder, the right thing to do would be to delete that post. It's inflammatory, and begs for rebuttal that won't be allowed. How about it?


As long as people's comments remain respectful, rational and on-topic, there's nothing preventing one from responding-to or rebutting any statement made in this or any thread. We encourage an open forum, and sometimes controversial things that are difficult to discuss are the things we really ought to talk about.

As far as what's considered "on-topic" in this thread, the political leanings of those behind such legislation ought to be considered, but let's not throw around "Liberal," "Conservative" or other such superfluous labels. And let's not start keeping score of which political ideology has the most dirt on it, as it proves nothing more than the fact that all of politics is, was and always will be a dirty business. The real issue here has nothing to do with Liberal or Conservative leanings and everything to do with the acquisition and preservation of POWER, and that is something that all political entities covet.

That said, let us continue the discussion at hand, taking care not to let our emotions get the better of us. If this thread is derailed again, it won't just be one post that's removed, but the whole thing (in the interests of fairness).

:mm:

[BroBrandonB]

wow... I am so excited, I can't belief I didn't hear about this sooner!

Maybe I'll celebrate by buying a zippo. ;D


The do still need to relax about knives, tho.

[matts2]

The TSA should be targeted.

Like the BATF, it is an unchecked government bureaucracy with unelected power to run roughshod over the Constitution and do all manner of extralegal things.

Liberals must be in a tizzy over them, because on the one hand they love to prohibit even good people from having any weapons whatsoever; but on the other hand they don't give a damn about people's rights or privacy.


You might want to think about the last few years a bit, then reconsider your apparently reflexive notion of liberal/conservative.

[Mark123]

I don't think it's about liberal/conservative; I think it's about the "competence" of elected leadership-whether intentional or not, the current bunch stoked the flames of public fear and hysteria. (We had a neighbor who duct-taped all of their windows back in 2003, based on something they heard from Ridge (?)-I'm not making this up.) A more convincing action would have been for every cabinet member to fly on separate commercial airliners from coast to coast after 9/11, figuratively sticking our middle finger at the attackers-but hindsight is 20/20.

As far as TSA policies-I think it's more about "people feeling safe about flying." Current policies may stop the mentally unstable or rank amateurs but probably couldn't stop a mastermind or the truly committed who rise above the level of suspicion. I accept this and I'm prepared to walk on the plane naked, if that's what is required. I must fly, and to an extent it's in God's hands-you can't go through life afraid. If you think about the cold war, when teh Soviet Union had 30,000 warheads pointed at us, this current bunch never has been, and never will be, an existential threat to the US.

Sorry for the rant. But I am glad some sanity was restored to the lighter policy. :roof:And I'm glad we live in a society where we're free to talk about keychains, wallet, flashlights, and lighters.