Markey Introduces "Leave All Blades Behind Act" Banning Box Cutters, Knives, and Other Dangerous Weapons

MARKEY INTRODUCES "LEAVE ALL BLADES BEHIND ACT" BANNING BOX CUTTERS, KNIVES, AND OTHER DANGEROUS WEAPONS FROM PASSENGER PLANES

Washington, DC - Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee and longstanding advocate for strengthened aviation security, and Representative Joseph Crowley, Chief Deputy Whip and leading member of the New York City delegation today announced their plan to introduce the "Leave All Blades Behind Act" in order to preserve the current ban on knives and other sharp objects that has kept these items off passenger planes since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Tomorrow the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is expected to announce its intention to lift this ban, effective later this month.

"TSA should not be making it easier for a terrorist to take over a passenger airplane. On September 11th, we witnessed the devastation and death that can be perpetrated onboard a plane with commonly-used items like boxcutters, and TSA wisely took action to ban such sharp objects. Now is not the time to overturn this ban, since we know that Al Qaeda continues to put passenger plans near the top of its terrorist target list," Rep. Markey said.

"This would effectively loosen the restrictions on the same items that led to the worst terrorist attacks in history. I lost my cousin, a former FDNY Chief on 9-11 and the fact is that we are no safer today than we were 4 years ago," said Crowley. "Flight attendants and airline passengers put themselves at risk everyday. There are more effective ways of increasing efficiency without compromising security."

The Association of Flight Attendants has also objected to the revised provisions. "Under no circumstance should potentially dangerous weapons be allowed onboard an aircraft," said Patricia Friend, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International President. "The devastating effects of 9/11 showed the world how a simple box cutter could become a deadly weapon in the hands of the wrong person. Flight attendants already have to be extra vigilant these days, and the fact that TSA wants them to contend with these hazardous objects is ridiculous. You can not take these objects to a sports complex, a museum, or a courthouse, you shouldn't be allowed to bring them on an aircraft either."

"If TSA does not abandon its decision to permit these potential weapons onboard planes, I will introduce a bill to ensure that the current ban remains in effect. Flight attendants came face-to-face with the bloodthirsty 9/11 hijackers on that clear autumn morning more than four years ago. It is widely believed that flight attendants were the first to die on September 11th. The Association of Flight Attendants is firmly opposed to lifting the ban on these hazardous carry-on items. We should listen to them, not brush away their concerns, which reflect the hard experience of one of the most painful moments in our nation's
history," Rep. Markey concluded.

A letter sent from Rep. Markey to DHS in August can be found at http://www.house.gov/markey/Issues/iss_aviationsec_ltr050818.pdf

http://www.house.gov/markey/Issues/iss_HSgen_pr051201.pdf