Originally Posted by
samftla
And what are you basing this on? Some hard statistics provided by TSA
Or just a guess on your part? To be honest you have no idea, the TSA has no idea and I have no idea the likelihood one could sneak a weapon past security. We have no idea how many instances of a "random knife or gun gets into the sterile area". We are totally dependent on random reports such as this one. How many go unreported? Maybe a few, maybe hundreds. But to make such a blanket statement based on nothing serves no purpose whatsoever.
SAM
Well, I know in the early days of TSA, Mrs. NY-FLA had 2 forgotten and identical supersharp paring knives in her carry-on. TSA found one, but on their bag check missed the other. The only other knife incident I've been involved with at TSA was their refusal to allow me to carry on a multipurpose tool with a 3/4" knife blade.
Hard statistics you want? Depending on how you look at it, in my knife test experience set, TSA was either 67% successful, or 50% successful but either way was totally ineffective. (Not that any of the knives IME are any more a credible threat than numerous permitted items or items commonly found on board.)
Where does TSA score near 100%? Forcing shoes off for the non-exempt suckers who pay for this idiocy, and finding containers marked with a number >3.4 oz. Fluid oz. or weight oz? Does not matter to these guardians of the airways. Effectiveness? < Zero.