“My nail clippers don’t count!”
Yes, but they probably do so long as they are a prohibited item. Last time I flew, my toothpaste was snagged by an alert TSA agent. It was a 7 oz. tube that was only 1/3 full, but before confiscating it, the agent helpfully pointed out that the 3 oz. maximum applies to the original commercial size of the tube, NOT the amount of toothpaste actually left.
Anyway, technically, this would count as a real-live example of where TSA intercepted a “prohibited” item to prevent its being carried on board my aircraft. Somehow I don’t think any of the passengers or pilot felt any more secure knowing my toothpaste had been left safely behind.
Flying out of Rochester 3 or 4 years ago, they confiscated my evil toothpaste. After we got in the air, the guy in our row gasped when he realized that he still had his huge knife in a sheath.
It didn’t bother us; we were feeling more hinky about the two swarthy, smarmy middle-eastern “gentlemen” across the aisle.
Yeah, the last time I flew, they "intercepted" a 3" Phillips-head screwdriver that I'd left in my laptop case.
Guy behind me dryly commented that "he felt safer already".
These Asinine rules don't protect anyone, they just harass people.