4 books of matches but no cigarette lighters on planes?

[Erika]

This is crazy and a sign of Bush's leadership. As of tomorrow, a person can carry on 4 books of matches but cannot have a lighter even in checked luggage. I wonder if Bush is paying one of his fund raisers $200,000 a year to come up with these insane ramblings as policy.

[enki23]

1. tobacco company compromise, i assume?

i can't think of any other rational reason. though, i suppose at least you can smell a lit match more easily than a lighter. not that it's likely to make any difference.

[lenidog]

2. Some bureaucrat believes that it is harder to light a fuse

because a match burns less hot, harder to keep lit and you can't keep it going for a couple of minutes like a lighter.

[Horse with no Name]

6. With 4 books of matches

You can light one match and light the entire book x4 and virtually cause chaos with 4 fires on board if you toss them about, where it is difficult to wreak that much havoc with a lighter because you have to hold it down to maintain the flame.
It's a stupid law and it certainly wasn't thought out.:(

[seabeyond]

3. you can immediately smell a match if it is lit

as a smoker and off a plane, i am just happy to hear i can carry matches so i dont have to hunt a lite, as i hunt a place to lite up

[radfringe]

12. yes -- however

the no lighter rule is to prevent people from flicking their bic to their nikes

by the time someone strikes a match, and someone else says "hey do you smell something" and calls the flight attendant over, explains that there's a funny smell, the flight attendant sniffs the air and possibly investigates -- the nikes are already on fire....

[LiberallyInclined]

4. even in CHECKED luggage?

there are A LOT of people who own valuable and/or "heirloom" lighters that are going to be pissed off about it when they find that out at the airport. I'm willing to bet that there will be people who cancel flights over surrendering a lighter at the airport.

this is as ridiculous as the ban on nail clippers- especially when they hand you an aluminum can of soda- rip that can in half, and you have two nasty edge weapons.

[Erika]

9. Yes, even in checked luggage

The TSA is a collosal joke.

[sbj405]

14. I had a lighter confiscated out of my checked luggage in January

Of course, the irony was that on the way there I had note that they looked in my luggage, but didn't take anyhthing. On the way back, they took it. It was a nice metal one too.

[immoderate]

5. Knitting needles are still allowed.

They can be deadly.

--IMM

[HeeBGBz]

13. Someone could knit an Afghan and then where would we be?

Sorry, old joke.

[Technowitch]

7. It's all about the illusion of security and safety

(eom)

[DrDebug]

15. Especially since you can't check it

Most throw away lighters only have a tiny amount of metal, the remainder is plastic. It's not going to be detected by metaldetectors and it's too small to be noticed on an X-Ray.

[LibDemAlways]

8. In first class cabins real silverware is

still a reality as are wine bottles and drinking glasses - all capable of inflicting damage.

I have long maintained that someone determined to cause havoc aboard an airliner could easily pass through security with no banned items. The airlines themselves provide plenty of potentially lethal devices.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. What a crock of shit!

I can understand not taking a lighter on board, but in your CHECKED luggage?! Am I reading wrong? I can't have a lighter in my luggage that is going under the plane?!

It won't be long before we will have flights with nothing but naked people who have endured a body cavity search just to get to a family wedding! :eyes:

[magellan]

11. Now, now, can't have that

Flights with nothin' but nekkid people? Whatever will the Cult of Life say? (But the sad buggers will probably dig the body cavity search followed by a family wedding part.)

[Catfight]

16. why don't airports put installed lighters in smoking areas only?

Seems inexpensive and full of security. Just install public lighters in smoking areas and ban all lighters and matches in airports? It's that simple. Repugs are so friggin stupid. Always pointing out issues, never solving them and creating more insanity to control everything. I seriously think they have the mind maturity of a teenager.

[LiberallyInclined]

18. some smokers have expensive or even heirloom lighters...

that they'd like to have with them when they travel. I'm not a tobacco smoker, and i haven't been on a plane since 9/11 anyway- but i think that this is just plain stupid legislation.
there's always something new to be embarassed about being an american...especially under this administration.

[Vinca]

17. Let me get this straight. The terrorist goes to the head with his

4 books of matches to light his Nikes in comfort rather than flicking his Bic in the aisle? I'm glad our tax dollars are so well spent in the fight against terrorism.