Why TSA delayed its new rules allowing knives on airplanes

Pressure from flight attendants and members of Congress prompts the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) to delay new rules that would have let passengers carry small knives and some sporting equipment onto airplanes.

By David Cook,?Staff writer / April 23, 2013

This undated handout image provided by the Transportation Security Administration shows a page from a TSA pamphlet of Changes to Prohibited Items List, of small knife guidelines allowed and not allowed on airplanes as per a new policy that was to go into effect on April 25.

TSA/AP

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Bowing to pressure from flight attendants and members of Congress,?the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it would delay implementation of new rules scheduled to take effect on Thursday that would have let passengers carry small knives and some sporting equipment onto airplanes.

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TSA Administrator John Pistole sent word of the change in an e-mail to employees on Monday. Politico Pro obtained a copy of the message,?which came after Mr. Pistole met with his Aviation Security Advisory Committee.

The agency later posted a brief statement on its website:??In order to accommodate further input from the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC), which includes representatives from the aviation community, passenger advocates, law enforcement experts, and other stakeholders, TSA will temporarily delay implementation of changes to the Prohibited Items List, originally scheduled to go into effect April 25.?

The agency did not link the change to the bomb attacks at the Boston Marathon, instead saying that the move ?will enable TSA to incorporate the [advisory panel's] feedback about the changes to the Prohibited Items List and continue workforce training."

But critics of the loosened rules did make such a link. Sara Nelson, international vice president of the Association of Flight Attendants, told USA Today that?"[i]n the wake of the terrorist bombing in Boston last week ... now is not the time to weaken transportation security.??

Ms. Nelson added that "[f]light attendants are breathing a sigh of relief that the weapons that led to the deadliest attack on U.S. soil in our nation's history will not be allowed in the aircraft cabin this week."?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/x4ZK7qRI0LI/Why-TSA-delayed-its-new-rules-allowing-knives-on-airplanes

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