(CNN) -- Seven airport security workers have been suspended after police said a man made it through a security checkpoint at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport with knives, a can of Mace and a stun gun.

http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/11/05/gen...ror/index.html

To answer your question, I do feel safe when flying.

There's always going to be some idiot that tries, and a few that succeed. There were before 9/11, and there will be some after 9/11. What is different is that you and I, the frequent traveller are much more aware of our surroundings and fellow travellers. The fact that the concourses are cleared of anyone without a ticket makes things easier. The "once a year traveller" is more likely to check their bags than they were 2 months ago, and makes my life easier.

I've flown domestic and international since 9/11, and without a doubt, if you plan for the new realities, it is not a problem.

Plaese also see:

Man caught with knives at Chicago airport - police

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/003248.html

I've flown 6 international and 18 domestic flights since 9/11. I feel that I'm safer than I was before because the casual crazies have been pretty much put out of business. I don't feel safer than I THOUGHT I was since at that time I was only concerned about the casual crazies.

I feel perfectly safe while flying. September 11 didn't change that. In fact, for the most part it's the people who would restrict more of our freedoms that keep chanting that 9/11 will completely change everything about flying.

Something about this guy doesn't add up. Look for reporters to either uncover some connection between this guy and the "federalize all aspects of airport security NOW" crowd or a revelation that he's just an unemployed illegal alien loner who wanted lots of attention last Saturday evening. He certainly didn't look like a hijacker with a plan.

From the video I saw of him, I wouldn't be afraid of this guy if he showed up with two carry-on bags loaded with hundreds of pocketknives (blades 2 1/2 to 4 inches long), dozens of stun guns sans batteries and cases of tear gas/pepper spray. Those items don't cause me to cower in fear. I carry a pocketknife everywhere I go, and have for many years (except on airplanes in the last 6 weeks), own a semiautomatic, and my family members carry pepper spray. So do lots of law-abiding, non-terrorist Americans who don't hijack and crash commerical jets.

Amazing (and sad) how one coordinated plan can convince so many Americans that there's a terrorist behind every pair of scissors or pocketknife.