Crowley, Gioia: Reimpose Ban On Scissors On Planes
BY JOHN TOSCANO

Congressmember Joseph Crowley and Councilmember Eric Gioia, at podium, recently called on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport to reinstate its ban on pointed metal scissors and small tools, making airline travel safer and sending a clear signal to terrorists that the United States will remain vigilant in its efforts to keep America safe.

Banning pointed metal scissors and small tools from airplanes to make airline travel safer and to send a clear signal to terrorists has been proposed recently by Congressmember Joseph Crowley and City Councilmember Eric Gioia.

The lawmakers said that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reimposing the ban on these small tools would send a clear signal to terrorists that the United States would remain vigilant in securing the safety of its citizens and the country.

Both also said they support pending legislation to reimpose the ban on those articles and others.

The TSA officially lifted the ban last December and immediately ran into strong opposition from Crowley and other public officials. Crowley (D–Queens/The Bronx) introduced the Leave All Blades Behind Act, which seeks to reinstate the ban on all scissors and tools that can be used to threaten the lives of airline passengers and flight personnel.

United States Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D–New York) introduced a similar measure calling for freezing the list of previously prohibited items.

Gioia (D–Long Island City) announced he would introduce a resolution in the City Council denouncing the TSA’s decision and supporting the bills introduced by Clinton and Crowley.

The original ban, imposed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, had prevented passengers from carrying the listed items on flights. Under the new TSA rules, small scissors and tools are now allowed on airplanes while cigarette lighters, knives, box cutters, baseball bats and other items remain prohibited.

At a press conference at LaGuardia Airport recently, Crowley stated: “The question we should be asking is: what has changed since September 11th? I have not had a single constituent ask me to push for these rules to be weakened. Instead of putting our nation at greater risk and sending a clear sign to terrorist organizations that we are more vulnerable, we should be investing in effective reform. There should be more screeners at the airports and the TSA should more strictly enforce restrictions on carry-on luggage.”

Gioia commented, “Weapons of any kind have no place on our airplanes. On September 11 [2001], we saw first hand the devastation these tools can inflict on our city and our nation. After those tragic events, it is shocking that the TSA would change course and allow objects that can easily be turned into weapons onto our passenger planes.”