Posted on 12/08/2004 2:40:01 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Passengers already are barred from smoking on commercial flights. Now they won't be allowed to bring their butane lighters on board either.
As part of the intelligence reform bill passed Wednesday, Congress added the lighters to the long list of banned items, including scissors, pen knives and box cutters.
Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota had pushed for the change for more than a year after learning the Transportation Security Administration allowed them on planes.
"When I found out that they had explicitly, in their rule, said you could take two butane lighters and four books of matches on board, I thought, 'What have they been drinking?'" Dorgan said. Matches still are allowed.
Dorgan cited FBI reports that would-be "shoe-bomber" Richard Reid would have been able to ignite his explosive and blow up a trans-Atlantic jetliner three years ago if he'd brought a butane lighter with him.
Wyden and Dorgan were so persistent in their campaign against the incendiary devices that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., joked earlier this year that he never thought butane lighters would get so much attention.
"This is probably not the biggest thing in the world," Dorgan said. "But it's one of those areas where a big government agency couldn't develop a little bit of common sense about something so obvious."
The ban takes effect 60 days after President Bush signs the intelligence reform bill into law.
Let's see no little knives, no "fire-starting devices", what's next? Personally, those items are part of my urban survival kit. You have obviously never seen the movie "Alive!"
When OBL uses his bomb and the Road Warrior Days come, we'll see who was in the Boy Scouts and who was at home playing Atari.
Yes, there is. It's called LAYOVERS and SMOKING DESIGNATED AREAS. When someone takes a long flight, it is legitimate for them to have smoking effects on them when they land and can go somewhere to smoke.
Just because you can't figure out that simple reality doesn't mean you're right.
If you are going to the developing world, just bum a light when you get there.
So let me make sure I've got this insanity right:
Ultimately, said citizen is out a couple of dollars, still in possession of a lighter, and there's absolutely no additional security benefit. But you feel safer.
My God...you people amaze me.
From whom? Nobody will have lighters or matches at the airport. And the vendors won't be able to sell such items if the neo-fascists think their plan through.
Do NOT attribute that asinine quote to me. I think these jackwits are the height of stupidity. The last thing I want is anyone to think I'm parroting their asinine bullcrap.
LOL!
Yeah, and a pocket knife and clean needles and ....and ..and
"...those items are part of my urban survival kit..."
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts alike learned valuable lessons!
~ Blue Jays ~
Sir, Private Zippo reporting, Sir!
LMAO
now where the hell did I put that lighter fluid???
Good one man. That's about my kit to. All small amount of cash also.
Of course you can't transport that stuff on a plane now. So if you're at an airport and an emergency strikes just plan on being just assed out. Don't worry the government will take care of ya.
Umm... when you get there?
Uhhhmmm because you could still use your lighter after you got off the plane??? Along withthe pack of cigarettes in your pocket that you didn't smoke.
Problem solved.
Smoke your weed like I do -- in the bathroom. Those smoke detectors aren't near as sensitive as they say they are. Besides, they're real easy to disable. A damp paper towel will do the trick every time.
Forgive me, but couldn't a bad guy start a fire with...oh, I dunno...a magnifying glass and a little bright sunshine?
Oh, I feel SOOOOO much safer now!
Regards,
The two deadliest pieces of equipment on a Navy ship are the electric clothes driers and the deep-fat friers.
That was the reason given, and it applied to civilian charter flights too. There was always the chance of decompression.
And, while they may be harder to find, matches should be banned on flights too.
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