TSA Drops Small-Knife Policy

The Transportation Security Administration on Wednesday rescinded a policy that would have allowed commercial airline passengers to carry small knives and sporting equipment on flights.

The Transportation Security Administration on Wednesday rescinded a policy that would have allowed commercial airline passengers to carry small knives and sporting equipment on flights.

The federal agency dropped plans to implement the policy on Wednesday. The news was lauded by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents federal law enforcement agents.

"While we applaud this decision, it is imperative that the agency commit the appropriate level of resources to ensure TSOs (Transportation Security Officers) receive the proper training on search and detection techniques," said Jon Adler, FLEOA's president, on Wednesday. "Congress should support this training commitment and allocate the necessary funds to sustain it."

The policy would have updated the TSA's Prohibited Items List to remove knives with blades less than 2.36 inches and sporting equipment such as golf clubs, billiard cues, ski poles and hockey and lacrosse sticks.

The policy change, which was announced March 4, immediately drew fire from FLEOA's Adler, who called it "dangerous and ill-advised."

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