Originally Posted by gsoltso

Read the statements - it all boils down to "keeping the flying public safe". Blades are a threat, they have been on the list for quite some time, the same for firearms, axes, crowbars - things that have been primarily identified as threat items (or the coveted dual-purpose - where they can be used for normal routines such as hammers, the aforementioned crowbar, etc) and can also be used to damage the airplane/passengers. I got ya on the garrote, that is an old school remedy that is best used from above or behind - I was always partial to the ink pen container minus the ink insert jabbed into the seam at the base of the neck and collarbone, get lucky and hit the jugular and we all get a fountain show! (snicker lol) Many of us have had training on how to use common everday items as weapons, it is the items that are understood to be weapons that we are looking for. I hate finding a pen knife because I have carried one since I was about 4 years old, and STILL carry one away from work. I understand how some passengers feel "nekkid" without their "Buck" or "Barlow", so it makes me upset when some of those folks surrender them.

NEVER, EVER, underestimate a person because of their size... Worst beat down I ever took was from a guy about 5'2-3" and weighed in at about 110 - there were like 100 punches thrown and exactly 2 of them were mine (hehe, I didn't like it so much when it happened, but I learned a very important lesson that day!).