The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) announced that starting on December 22nd, it would lift restrictions on items such as scissors, large screwdrivers and other items and allow passengers to carry them onboard the aircraft.

Ever since receiving word that TSA was considering lifting these restrictions earlier this year, AFA-CWA has been working to prevent such a move.

S. 2083 and HR 4452 the "Leave All Blades Behind Act" prevent TSA from allowing these potential weapons back onboard the aircraft. We must let our elected Representatives know that they must support this legislation and that it must be passed as quickly as possible.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a a constituent, I am writing today to urge you to please cosponsor S. 2083/H.R. 4452, the "Leave All Blades Behind Act." This legislation would prevent the TSA from once again allowing dangerous items that could aid terrorists in a hijacking and that could lead to serious harm to individuals onboard aircraft.

I am outraged that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that they will allow certain dangerous and potentially life threatening items back onboard the aircraft. Have we not learned how simple box cutters brought down four aircraft on September 11th? Why do passengers even need to bring scissors, screwdrivers, pliers and other such items onboard the aircraft? The vast majority of the American public is now trained to not bring these items onboard with them and to put them in their checked luggage. The aircraft cabin is no place for these items.

Besides providing a potential weapon or tool for terrorists onboard the aircraft, these items in the hands of an unruly and disturbed passenger could lead to serious harm to myself or passengers onboard the aircraft. We have seen more and more disruptive passengers since 9-11 and these items in their hands could wreak further havoc.

I applaud the TSA's announcement that they need to focus more efforts on detecting potential suicide bombers, but such efforts should not lead to allowing potentially dangerous items onboard the aircraft cabin - a place they simply do not belong. Other actions could be taken such as having TSA actually enforce the carry-on bag limitations so that fewer and smaller bags are going through the security checkpoints. I find it difficult to believe that allowing scissors smaller than 4 inches and tools under 7 inches onboard would free up screener time. Wouldn't they have to stop the screening belt repeatedly to measure the items to ensure that they are under the allowable size?

Again, I strongly encourage you to cosponsor S. 2083/HR 4452, which would freeze the current list of prohibited items into place. Under this legislation TSA would not be allowed to remove potentially dangerous items from the prohibited list - items which have no place onboard an aircraft in the first place - but could add items in the future. Please take a stand in keeping our aircraft safe - cosponsor S. 2083/HR 4452 today.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
December 13, 2005