New TSA regs

Kip Hawley, director of the Transportation Security Administration (a subset of the Department of Homeland Security), announced a lowering of some standards in allowed carry-ons. The TSA is now allowing scissors of less than four inches on board passenger aircraft.

However, Hawley said “tools longer than 7 inches are still prohibited.”

I think Hawley, and his buddies at the TSA/DHS, have a teensy-tiny insecurity. If y’know what I mean. 4 inches or less, but not longer than 7 inches? What about “tools” that are 4.1 to 6.9 (*snicker* 6.9) inches in length?

Ahhhh… bureaucracy.

In all seriousness, however, the lowering of scissor standards was in the hope that in not focusing on low-to-no threat items - like 2-inch scissors - TSA agents could focus their collective energy on high-threat items. Like bombs. You know, the bombs that caused 9/11/01.

What? No bombs caused civilian loss? Just box knifes?

Well I guess we can hope that terrorists don’t bring ceramic knives on board, as we peacefully hand our ticket to the gate agent.