Tactical Pens and airport security

[old tanker]

 

[Kurusu]

They have never questioned my two freshly-sharpened pencils...

Make mine # 4

 

[nachogrande]

A GOOD/HONEST POST YODA.

I know I've lost a few "dangerous" things to airport security, aftershave and a bottle of water. Since Walking Wolf keeps falsely stating that I am suggesting this or that, HERES A SUGGESTION that may quiet you down and save you a few bucks. Get a prescription from your Dr for a bariatric cane (a heavy duty cane for heavy people), because the one you currently use is flexing & not getting the job done. Insurance may cover the cost completely, & save you the 100$+ for the tactical K-Bar cane. You will have to live without the curved end for Ninja esque hooking your attackers. Cute comic whoever posted that one. I guess the mugger was out of bullets, OR the cane wielding victim was THE FLASH.

 

[Pef]

Does the TSA get employees with secret service type pedigrees, for what they pay? I doubt it, nor does the avg screener get a say in what makes the NOT ALLOWED list. To any TSA members, I wouldn't want your job. NOT ALLOWED ITEMS are well posted. Here's a wild idea, since it's only been 17 years since 9/11. DON'T BRING NOT ALLOWED ITEMS INTO NOT ALLOWED PLACES. I came up with that one all on my own. At home or about town, do as you will.

What Can I Bring? | Transportation Security Administration

Go to the TSA website. The term "tactical pen" is not in the list of allowed/not allowed items.

"Pens" are allowed. There are no special instructions regarding pens.

"Kubotan" is not allowed. But I never considered a "Tactical pen" a "kubotan."

Knitting needles, with which one can easily kill with a well place puncture to the neck, are allowed in carry on. I'd rather face a tactical pen.

So are scissors with blades less than 4". I can separate those into two separate piercing instruments. I'd rather face a tactical pen.

The TSA needs to clarify the rules. A tactical pen is not a kubotan. Either ban it, or not.

As for the admonishments you advance, your only authority is the arbitrary and capricious judgment of the TSA agent. The OP did nothing wrong; your arguments are premised on non-existent authority.

 

[TAROMAN]

Yet another reason not to fly.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Duly noted. Over/under: Mother's Day. I'm taking the under . . .

I know I've lost a few "dangerous" things to airport security, aftershave and a bottle of water. Since Walking Wolf keeps falsely stating that I am suggesting this or that, HERES A SUGGESTION that may quiet you down and save you a few bucks. Get a prescription from your Dr for a bariatric cane (a heavy duty cane for heavy people), because the one you currently use is flexing & not getting the job done. Insurance may cover the cost completely, & save you the 100$+ for the tactical K-Bar cane. You will have to live without the curved end for Ninja esque hooking your attackers. Cute comic whoever posted that one. I guess the mugger was out of bullets, OR the cane wielding victim was THE FLASH.

 

[Ingramite]

During the first week of the academy we all walked into a classroom with a table up front with all sorts of weapons. Nightsticks, slappers, brass knuckles, even a set of thumb screws.

The instructor asked the class what our "Most Effective" weapon would be and predictably most of us chose the sawed off shotgun.

He smiled, reached into his starched shirt pocket to produce his department issue ballpoint pen......"Your reports will be written in the third person....." and so it began. We learned and came to appreciate those of us who could "weave the facts" into a compelling tale.

But today we are speaking of something entirely different when we talk about "tactical pens" and of course, since I fly frequently I have learned to love the feeling of the K-9 pressing it's nose in the crack of my britches while I'm minding my own.

Being a Texan I have always had a fascination with Bolo ties. String ties for those who live "up yonder". I always felt that they were something that maybe old men or actors playing a part in a movie wore. One day I glanced in the mirror and decided that it was no longer of any value to be in denial.
Somehow I had slipped into old man territory. Being semi-senile I thought it might even be a good idea to wear one with my Stetson on a recent trip through Chicago O'Hare airport. I thought that maybe my Lucheese boots might have given them a clue since they are all world known for their "profiling acumen".

She points at my solid brass bolo and says "What that?" I knew I shouldn't, but remember I can play the senility card now.......So I told her that if my flight is delayed I'm proceeding to the Men's Room to hang myself. I thought it was pretty funny.....they didn't.

 

[nachogrande]

NEVER KNEW I WAS IMPO-TENT. LOL

What Can I Bring? | Transportation Security Administration

Go to the TSA website. The term "tactical pen" is not in the list of allowed/not allowed items.

"Pens" are allowed. There are no special instructions regarding pens.

"Kubotan" is not allowed. But I never considered a "Tactical pen" a "kubotan."

Knitting needles, with which one can easily kill with a well place puncture to the neck, are allowed in carry on. I'd rather face a tactical pen.

So are scissors with blades less than 4". I can separate those into two separate piercing instruments. I'd rather face a tactical pen.

The TSA needs to clarify the rules. A tactical pen is not a kubotan. Either ban it, or not.

As for the admonishments you advance, your only authority is the arbitrary and capricious judgment of the TSA agent. The OP did nothing wrong; your arguments are premised on non-existent authority.

IDK, I guess "the rules" are ever changing, with a great deal of discretion on the TSA's part??? My 85 y/o (at the time) Mom in a NON tactical wheelchair had her tiny antique sewing scissors & nail clippers confiscated. I TOLD HER not to bring ANYTHING metal or sharp. She did not RESPECT MY AUTHORITY.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Being a Texan I have always had a fascination with Bolo ties.

My brother explained how useful a bolo tie can be. If, for no other reason, to tie up a perp's hands or feet rather quickly. But he had other uses, too.

What Can I Bring? | Transportation Security Administration

Go to the TSA website. The term "tactical pen" is not in the list of allowed/not allowed items.

"Pens" are allowed. There are no special instructions regarding pens.

"Kubotan" is not allowed. But I never considered a "Tactical pen" a "kubotan."

The problem here is that while I agree, the TSA gets to write its own definitions. Since a true "kubotan" is a 5 or 6 inch defensive weapon, originally attached to a keychain but the term has been redefined through usage, anything that remotely resembles a defensive or fighting instrument of around that length can be declared to be a kubotan by TWMTR. That would be Those Who Make The Rules.

A real pen, as discussed earlier, despite the materials of which it is comprised, is still a pen, and cannot be so easily redefined.

 

[Ingramite]

If I wasn't so lazy and technically challenged I would look up who to attribute this famous quote to:

"The pen is mightier than the sword"

Or even another:

"There is no justice. Just us"

In 1988 I got off of a jetliner at the Rome airport and was shocked to see uniformed troops with automatic weapons patrolling. Only now do I even begin to realize how naive we have been in the past.

 

[nachogrande]

WHAT'S THE LIMIT?

Duly noted. Over/under: Mother's Day. I'm taking the under . . .

What odds will you give me for the day, AND TIME? How much longer til Mothers day?

 

[Watchdog]

Cross pen and pencil set. You can drive one of them through a 2x4.

Not with your hand, you can't.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

IDK, I guess "the rules" are ever changing, with a great deal of discretion on the TSA's part??? My 85 y/o (at the time) Mom in a NON tactical wheelchair had her tiny antique sewing scissors & nail clippers confiscated. I TOLD HER not to bring ANYTHING metal or sharp. She did not RESPECT MY AUTHORITY.

I remember a published story several years ago about a charter flight bringing soldiers back from the "sandbox" (combat zone). Each soldier was carrying his/her personal weapons (pistols, rifles, carbines, squad automatic weapons, etc), all unloaded of course. While passing through a stateside airport (transfer, refueling, whatever) the troops had to go through TSA screening, and the intrepid security officers proceeded to confiscate pocket knives, multi-tools, and nail clippers before allowing the armed soldiers to board the aircraft.

Common sense is not an epidemic in North America. Not even very common.

 

[Muss Muggins]

I remember when that story surfaced. While not totally and completely disproven, that event most likely did not occur. Your telling is also far away from the original story, in which one set of nail clippers was allegedly confiscated . . .

FACT CHECK: Another TSA Outrage

I remember a published story several years ago about a charter flight bringing soldiers back from the "sandbox" (combat zone). Each soldier was carrying his/her personal weapons (pistols, rifles, carbines, squad automatic weapons, etc), all unloaded of course. While passing through a stateside airport (transfer, refueling, whatever) the troops had to go through TSA screening, and the intrepid security officers proceeded to confiscate pocket knives, multi-tools, and nail clippers before allowing the armed soldiers to board the aircraft.

Common sense is not an epidemic in North America. Not even very common.

 

[SATX]

True story, no BS.

My father in law flew first class shortly after 9/11. TSA confiscated his nail clipper but served him a knife with his meal.

 

[Muss Muggins]

True story, no BS.

My father in law flew first class shortly after 9/11. TSA confiscated his nail clipper but served him a knife with his meal.

I got a plastic knife from American Airlines at the end of September, 2001 . . .

 

[Walkingwolf]

My wife flies twice a year from a airport in a military town. We have never seen a soldier even in uniform flying armed on a commercial flight.

It is common for the military to charter commercial airlines to transport soldiers as a group from the air base, in our case Pope AFB. They are fully armed, but do not go through airport security. During the time after 9-11 the news often had video reporting of soldiers departing from Pope AFB armed on either military transports, or chartered flights.

When soldiers take RR on commercial airlines I believe their weapon stays with the unit.

ETA when my stepson flew out of Pope there was equipment inspections for every flight for the unit as a whole. I don't remember him mentioning confiscation of any nail clippers.

 

[Walkingwolf]

Not with your hand, you can't.

Chuck Norris can.(sarcasm)

 

[BB57]

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.

----

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.

 

[Muss Muggins]

What odds will you give me for the day, AND TIME? How much longer til Mothers day?

Four weeks from today . . .