Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Congress bans lighters from airliners
Seattle PI ^ | Dec 8, 2004 | Leslie Miller

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.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: airlinesecurity; intel8reform; intelligencereform; tsa
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 181-182 next last
To: CaptainJustice
Banning a fire-staring device that contains combustable material from an airplane is not tantamount to strip searches and nudity.

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.

121 posted on 12/08/2004 3:59:16 PM PST by Smogger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: CaptainJustice
There is no good reason to have a lighter on a plane, not a single one.

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.

122 posted on 12/08/2004 4:02:13 PM PST by Prime Choice (I like Democrats, too. Let's exchange recipes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Prime Choice
There is no good reason to have a lighter on a plane, not a single one.

From my understanding of the rules, the is absolutely no good reason to have a penis on bard a plane either...scary, isn't it?
123 posted on 12/08/2004 4:04:49 PM PST by NonLinear ("If not instantaneous, then extrordinarily fast" - Galileo re. speed of light. circa 1600)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 122 | View Replies]

To: AdamSelene235
Uh, if you're traveling to the developing world and don't want to check luggage.

If you are going to the developing world, just bum a light when you get there.

124 posted on 12/08/2004 4:06:06 PM PST by WildTurkey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Bluegrass Conservative
Either wait until you get your baggage, or if you're jonesing so bad on a layover, buy a cheap Bic.

So let me make sure I've got this insanity right:

  1. Citizen has to surrender lighter at security gate so citizen can't board plane with lighter (which would be oh-so-hazardous).
  2. Citizen goes to shop inside airport and buys a "cheap Bic."
  3. Suddenly citizen can now board said plane WITH said forbidden lighter (which is really and truly dangerous, you know).

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.

125 posted on 12/08/2004 4:07:59 PM PST by Prime Choice (I like Democrats, too. Let's exchange recipes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: WildTurkey
If you are going to the developing world, just bum a light when you get there.

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.

126 posted on 12/08/2004 4:09:04 PM PST by Prime Choice (I like Democrats, too. Let's exchange recipes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 124 | View Replies]

To: NonLinear
"There is no good reason to have a lighter on a plane, not a single one."

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.

127 posted on 12/08/2004 4:10:24 PM PST by Prime Choice (I like Democrats, too. Let's exchange recipes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 123 | View Replies]

To: Prime Choice
I think these jackwits are the height of stupidity.

LOL!

128 posted on 12/08/2004 4:11:43 PM PST by Smogger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 127 | View Replies]

To: WildTurkey
If you are going to the developing world, just bum a light when you get there

Yeah, and a pocket knife and clean needles and ....and ..and

129 posted on 12/08/2004 4:15:10 PM PST by AdamSelene235
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 124 | View Replies]

To: Smogger
Hi Smogger-

"...those items are part of my urban survival kit..."



There are certain things that all adults should have available to them wherever they might find themselves. Emergencies happen and you need helpful tools to resolve those unexpected problems. This includes simple items like:

These kind of utilitarian items weren't a problem on airplanes in the past...and they wouldn't be a problem NOW because hijackers will NEVER be able to seize another plane without being pummeled to mush. A little kit like this fits into a small pouch and is similarly handy to have stored in a car.

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts alike learned valuable lessons!

~ Blue Jays ~

130 posted on 12/08/2004 4:20:05 PM PST by Blue Jays (Rock Hard, Ride Free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 121 | View Replies]

To: Sub-Driver

Sir, Private Zippo reporting, Sir!
LMAO

now where the hell did I put that lighter fluid???


131 posted on 12/08/2004 4:27:46 PM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Blue Jays

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.


132 posted on 12/08/2004 4:32:21 PM PST by Smogger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 130 | View Replies]

To: Bluegrass Conservative

Umm... when you get there?


133 posted on 12/08/2004 4:33:58 PM PST by johnb838 (Killmore.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Bluegrass Conservative

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.


134 posted on 12/08/2004 4:34:46 PM PST by Tempest (Click on my name for a long list of press contacts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

I think it would be easier if we were all forced to fly naked and anesthetized.

Problem solved.

135 posted on 12/08/2004 4:37:58 PM PST by Last Visible Dog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: El Conservador

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.


136 posted on 12/08/2004 4:39:08 PM PST by johnb838 (Killmore.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection

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,


137 posted on 12/08/2004 4:39:52 PM PST by VermiciousKnid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jimthewiz
Fires on planes are generally electrical and not intentionally started.

The two deadliest pieces of equipment on a Navy ship are the electric clothes driers and the deep-fat friers.

138 posted on 12/08/2004 4:44:25 PM PST by AndyJackson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies]

To: Old Professer

That was the reason given, and it applied to civilian charter flights too. There was always the chance of decompression.


139 posted on 12/08/2004 4:45:10 PM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Bluegrass Conservative
And, while they may be harder to find, matches should be banned on flights too.

Weren’t matches used by one terrorist to attempt to light his shoe bombs?
140 posted on 12/08/2004 4:46:55 PM PST by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 101-120121-140141-160 ... 181-182 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson