Originally Posted by whirledtraveler
If you ask me, we have too much "common sense" security. What the govt really needs to do is get people of average intelligence together in a room and ask them to pretend to be terrorists and plan an attack on an airliner using only what is allowed. Out of that, I suspect you'd discover that real security would involve banning cell phones, laptops, powercords and battery powered consumer electronics of all kinds.
Your emphasis on small knives and throwing stars reminds me of an anecdote a friend told me about some German friends of his. They carefully wrapped all of their meat while cooking to avoid any charring (cancer risk, you see), while all along they chain-smoked cigarettes.
True, there are lots of things you need to do but it seems to be a no-brainer to say "You know sir, that handgun needs to be checked" rather than saying "It's either naked and without posessions or fully kitted like a Navy SEAL on the way to combat, one or the other".
The point I was making was that there's no reason to carry throwing stars on a flight so why even take the risk that someone may use them. Some things have no utility on a plane whatsoever (although I suppose if you get into a fight with a frequent flyer ninja then the throwing stars, caltrops, swords and tiger claws may be useful) and as such should prove relatively easy to get people to agree to. The fact you can't carry
some things is not the same as having to be strip searched on the way into the airport and I think it's important to view them as separate issues.
Originally Posted by stimpy
The real answer is not to ban "things". The only way to stop terrorism on airlines is to stop the people who might commit acts of terrorism.
Good luck on that one, be sure to contact the White House, Downing Street et al when you find the answer.