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Reaction Split at FYI Over New TSA Policy Allowing Knives on Planes

By Carina Corral, KSEE News
March 8, 2013 Updated Mar 9, 2013 at 12:33 PM PDT

There is more fallout over the Transportation Security Administration's new controversial policy.

Starting next month, passengers will be allowed to carry small knives onto planes.

Air marshals, pilots and flight attendants have come out against the policy, but reaction at Fresno Yosemite International Airport is mixed.

"If someone had a pocket knife it wouldn't bother me whatsoever," said Clovis Resident Rob Wolf, who on any given day has a small pocket knife on him and does not think it poses a real threat to national security.

There are also those at the airport who said this new policy is just asking for trouble. "If someone is bound and determined they're going to do it so why give them some allowance?" asked Hanford Resident Lucy Dominico.

The policy banning knives on planes has been in effect since the terrorist attacks on September 11. It was reversed earlier this week to make security move faster at airports and allow agents to focus efforts on "more serious safety threats." The TSA said the new policy conforms with international policy.

Folding knives with blades smaller than 2.36 inches in length and less than .50 wide will soon be allowed, as will baseball bats less than 24 inches long, toy plastic bats, billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks and two golf clubs. Items like box cutters and razor blades will still be prohibited. The TSA's stance is that these items pose no real terrorist threat.

"Well, neither did a pair of shoes, did it? And we found out that was a weapon," countered Dominico.

Air marshals, pilots and flight attendants are not convinced either, whose unions are calling on the TSA to reconsider.

"It's outrageous and I'm hearing outrage from flight attendants throughout the country. This cannot stand," said Sara Nelson, the vice president of the Association of Flight Attendants.

The TSA said security improvements on passenger jets make the ban on small knives no longer necessary. At least one passenger agrees.

"I know they've upgraded the door which leads into the cabin. So, a pocket knife or not a pocket knife, I still don't think you're going to get access into the cabin," said Wolf.

There are on-line petitions underway in an effort to keep knives off planes, but with no plans on the horizon for a TSA retraction the new policy goes into effect April 25th amongst a cloud of controversy.