You know, that's bull**** too. Or rather it's not but you know exactly why these things should be prohibited. The problem with the US is that some people confuse common sense security with some kind of attack on their freedom and lump it in with stuff like shoe carnivals. Carrying weapons on flights and having your shoes left on at security are not the same deal which ever way you cut it.

Shoe searches are idiotic and provide a facade of security where asking people not to carry weapons is a useful measure. I'm not talking about weapons as nail files, scissors and letter openers here, just hunting knives, swords, throwing stars, bows and so on. We've had this for decades in Europe and I don't feel opressed.