So you can have a gun in your checked luggage but not a book of matches? Next thing people will be putting lighters in condoms and swallowing them with the hope they'll come out in time to use them during their layover.
The TSA is out of control. Yeah, terrorism sucks, but loss of our freedom sucks more.
this is easy.......they can ban that stuff on board as long as they supply free matches upon deboarding.....no problem.
RE: Ban on Matches, Lighters Vexes Airports
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24774-2005Feb14.html?sub=AR
Was the congressional vote to ban butane lighters, or was it to ban all lighters and matches? Under what authority can these restrictions continue to be revised by the TSA, if initially congress had to vote on the issue? I checked the TSA website January 26, 2005 (IL Smokers Group post #805), and at that time it read:
http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_8_23_2004.pdf
"Disposable lighters and absorbed liquid lighters are allowed in your carry-on baggage.
Strike anywhere matches are NOT permitted. If you are uncertain as to whether your lighter is
prohibited, please refrain from bringing it to the airport."
Are participating in these discussion how government leaders are protecting our country now? If the TSA would have been satisfied with banning lighters, they wouldn't look like fools now. Chemical compounds already exist that will burst into flame on impact.
A "fire" ban will have no bearing on improving security. Implementing a "match" ban will only cause a greater percentage of us to become criminals by concealing contraband when we fly. It is sheer stupidity to implement laws that cannot be enforced.
"....But as airports and government leaders began discussing how to create flame-free airport terminals, the task became more complicated. Would newsstands and other small airport stores located beyond the security checkpoint have to stop selling lighters?"......
"......Would airports have to ban smoking and close smoking lounges? How would security screeners detect matches in passengers' pockets or carry-on bags when they don't contain metal to set off the magnetometers? And what about arriving international travelers, who might have matches and lighters with them as they walk through the terminal?......"
"......TSA Administrator David M. Stone is expected to face tough questions on lighters and on TSA budget issues before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today, as President Bush has proposed to cut several major programs from the agency and raise passenger security fees. "
This entire airport security concept grows more ridiculous every day! Can't our policy makers think beyond the end of their noses. Their paranoia is expanding beyond the limits of sanity. I'd like to know what genius conceived the idea to expand this "fire" ban on airports. The boogey-man terrorists are continuing to disrupt our society without even lifting a finger. I can't wait to read world opinion on this latest US airport fiasco.
The TSA has told airports that for now they can keep smoking lounges open, and perhaps airports can install wall-mounted lighters."
Wall mounted lighters in airports?? -- increased passenger security fees?? -- for now airports can keep smoking lounges open?? Shame on me, and this is based purely on my suspicious nature, but I wonder if the CDC and/or other powerful anti-smoking special interest groups are orchestrating the entire idea.