Posted on 03/09/2005 9:25:28 AM PST by Cooter
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Airline passengers, who already are prohibited from carrying torch-like butane lighters onto commercial aircraft, will be prohibited from carrying any type of lighter on planes and into secure areas of airports beginning April 14, the Transportation Security Administration announced Monday.
But the TSA is not prohibiting matches, at least not yet.
The TSA says it is considering banning matches, but will seek public comment before making any change.
The butane lighter ban was mandated by Congress as a provision in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which was signed into law by the president on December 17.
The TSA said that after evaluating the security threat, congressional intent and operational considerations, it determined that passengers should be prohibited from carrying any lighter on their person or in carry-on luggage in the secure areas of airports or on board an airplane.
The policy will be fully enforced beginning April 14.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I'm amazed it's taken this long.
But matches are still okay?
For now, matches are still okay.
BTW - remember Richard Reid (the shoe bomber) ?? .... he used MATCHES!!!!
This is a reaction to the guy with the bomb in his shoe. How long ago was that? Two, three years? The TSA is laughable.
I also have to question how they'll enforce this. Will butane lighters show up on a scan? It's a certainty matches won't so if they get around to banning them the only surefire way to find them will be to handsearch all carryons.
Total BS in the name of "safety".
I second that!!!
Next will come the ban on flint and steel.
They could be hidden in the mouth or elsewhere. A full search would be needed for anyone who smells like they are a smoker.
Of course, they haven't banned flint and steel. You could always strike a spark that way.
You beat me on "flint and steel" by 15 seconds.
Start looking for "fully electric" lighters (resistance wire)
How about a battery and a wire? A model rocket engine igniter could be used as a detonator for Chr#sts sake!
They'll take our lighters away but still are not allowed to profile. And they can only pull 3 (?) middle easterns out of line on each flight, even if there are 40 on the plane.
Simply amazing.........
Think it's time to change my nick.
How about.......TotallyFedUp!
I hear ya :) Talk about going overboard! I remember when they had the NG patroling the terminals. One had a M203 (grende launcher). I doubt he had ammo for it but I would be more afraid of him firing in a terminal than any terrorist.
Lighters banned.
Matches and anyone suspicious looking from the Mideast not banned.
Homeland Security my a**!!!!!!!!
I bet the companies who make lighters('Big Lighters' lol), are really loving this one!
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