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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
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To: Bluegrass Conservative

Can you tell I had my lighter confiscated on the way to Kazakhstan?


41 posted on 12/08/2004 3:03:03 PM PST by AdamSelene235
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To: Bluegrass Conservative

Candles? Campfires? Incense sticks?


42 posted on 12/08/2004 3:03:18 PM PST by Old Professer (The accidental trumps the purposeful in every endeavor attended by the incompetent.)
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To: Bluegrass Conservative
However, I don't want the possibility of a fire on a plane.

Somehow I don't think it was caused by a butane lighter.

43 posted on 12/08/2004 3:03:32 PM PST by Prime Choice (I like Democrats, too. Let's exchange recipes.)
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To: AdamSelene235

Okay, remember, my point isn't that this is terrorist prevention. If a terrorist wants to take a plane down, they're most likely going to find a way. I'm more worried about "psycho nutjob" prevention with the lighters. Some are probably well-versed in chemistry, but most are more likely to be pyromaniacs.


44 posted on 12/08/2004 3:04:09 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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Comment #45 Removed by Moderator

To: AdamSelene235

Yes they can, but I'd prefer to minimize the chances.


46 posted on 12/08/2004 3:05:03 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: R. Scott

Maybe that's because they don't always have pressurized cabins.


47 posted on 12/08/2004 3:05:16 PM PST by Old Professer (The accidental trumps the purposeful in every endeavor attended by the incompetent.)
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To: kellynla

Hey Mister, Got a Light?


48 posted on 12/08/2004 3:05:22 PM PST by Sub-Driver (Unelect All NJ Politicians....)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
The ban takes effect 60 days after President Bush signs the intelligence reform bill into law.

Any other surprises in the bill we should know about before it is signed into the law of unintended consequences?

49 posted on 12/08/2004 3:05:39 PM PST by Glenn (The two keys to character: 1) Learn how to keep a secret. 2) ...)
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To: Prime Choice

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


50 posted on 12/08/2004 3:05:55 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Well, duh. I'm surprised they didn't do it sooner. Buy a cheapo lighter when you go to your destination. There's no need for fire on board a plane.


51 posted on 12/08/2004 3:06:02 PM PST by CaptainJustice
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To: dalereed

Whoa, dude...let's turn it down a couple of notches, eh?


52 posted on 12/08/2004 3:06:06 PM PST by Prime Choice (I like Democrats, too. Let's exchange recipes.)
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To: Bluegrass Conservative

Please cite some examples of psycho nutjobs downing aircraft with butane lighters...

How many millions of flights have been made to date? Surely with non-infintesimal odds, at least one must have been done in in this fashion.


53 posted on 12/08/2004 3:06:44 PM PST by NonLinear ("If not instantaneous, then extrordinarily fast" - Galileo re. speed of light. circa 1600)
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To: Bluegrass Conservative
And, while they may be harder to find, matches should be banned on flights too.

So you'd recommend strip searches to find them, right? If not, the matches are still gonna get on the plane. Then what're you gonna do?

54 posted on 12/08/2004 3:06:55 PM PST by Prime Choice (I like Democrats, too. Let's exchange recipes.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

But, but, how will I smoke my weed during the flight??? (/sarc, before you draw any conclusions)


55 posted on 12/08/2004 3:07:23 PM PST by El Conservador ("No blood for oil!"... Then don't drive, you moron!!!)
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To: NonLinear
You assume that I support matches being allowed too.

Bzzzztt - wrong-o : )

56 posted on 12/08/2004 3:07:26 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: Bluegrass Conservative
Okay, remember, my point isn't that this is terrorist prevention.

No kidding.

If a terrorist wants to take a plane down, they're most likely going to find a way. I'm more worried about "psycho nutjob" prevention with the lighters. Some are probably well-versed in chemistry, but most are more likely to be pyromaniacs.

Could you possibly stop inflicting your bizzare internal fantasies on the rest of us?

57 posted on 12/08/2004 3:07:40 PM PST by AdamSelene235
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To: Old Professer

On a plane?


58 posted on 12/08/2004 3:07:58 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: Prime Choice

OK that settles it.

ALL FLIGHTS ARE HEREBY DECLARED "NO CLOTHING" FLIGHTS.
You MUST be naked to board the aircraft.

That is all.


59 posted on 12/08/2004 3:08:50 PM PST by NonLinear ("If not instantaneous, then extrordinarily fast" - Galileo re. speed of light. circa 1600)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Does anyone sell a portable electric lighter (like you had in your car until you pulled it out and lost it because you needed to charge a cell phone)?


60 posted on 12/08/2004 3:08:51 PM PST by KarlInOhio (In a just world, Arafat would have died at the end of a rope.)
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