Quote:
Originally Posted by nachogrande
IF you want to carry a tactical pen, fine. I have no problems with them. Carrying them onto an airplane, into a prison/courthouse or other restricted place, YOU may end up being the one with the problem, is all I am saying. Double edged belt buckle knives have been "discovered" too. Want to go all double naught spy? Sharpen an edge on your credit card, get a rolex with a garot, a kevlar trenchcoat, and a steel lined derby hat.  |
You may be missing the point that a tactical pen isn't much or any more effective than a well made steel or aluminum "regular" pen for stabbing someone in the neck, or stab them in the hand or under the arm to get them to drop a weapon. The non writing point on a tactical pen is going to be more effective as breaking safety glass.
In the big picture it makes little sense to ban specific items that are not intended to be weapons when you can make much more effective weapons out of items that are already allowed.
For example put these items in your carry on:
1) Normal butane cigarette lighter
2) Disposable razor
3) tooth brush.
4) a foot or so of duct tape.
Once on board, go to the lavatory, tape over the smoke/heat sensor (the only federal offense involved so far), break apart your disposable razor and use the lighter to heat up the handle end of your tooth brush to melt it enough to seat the razor blades in the handle.
Once it cools, you've not got a weapon that is capable of making impressive, but shallow, wounds on passengers and crew alike.
How about a rat tail comb and a common hand held pencil sharpener? 30 seconds without even leaving your seat and you'll have a weapon that is far more effective at stabbing in soft tissue than a tactical pen.
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In the end, TSA's banned items make just as much sense as banning AR-15s or guns in general. Any ban designed to prevent violence will at best only change the weapon that is used.