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Former Transportation Security Administration head Kip Hawley is on a media tour criticizing the inefficiency and misplaced logic of searching for insignificant tools like knives and scissors. According to ABC News, Hawley says passengers should be able to carry knives on planes because they don’t pose a significant risk.

His thinking stems around the fact that no matter how many knives someone carries on board, they’ll never be able to get into the fortified cockpit or cause major damage. Instead, he argues, TSA agents should focus on finding things like explosives or toxins, which can kill far more people and actually take down a plane.

Here’s more of Hawley’s logic explained to Charlie Rose:

“You can’t take over a plane with a knife,” he told Charlie Rose, because the cockpit doors are now secure. “It’s a risk management issue. You could say, ‘Yes, somebody could bring a knife and stab the guy next to him,’ that’s a risk. When I tried to get small scissors taken off the prohibited items list, there was a scream of, ‘There’ll be blood running in the aisles!’

“I think what risk management would dictate is you’ve got to find the bombs, because a bomb will take down a plane. And if you’re so busy fishing around looking for Swiss Army knives, it diverts your focus. So my theory is, let’s not have the officers look for knives and small things. Focus on bombs, toxins, things that could destroy the plane.”

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The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) is encouraging residents of Michigan to contact their state representatives about pending legislation that would remove the switchblade ban and reduce a ban on fixed-blade knives in the state, according to a press release from AKTI.

If this legislation passes, it would make Michigan one of many states to reverse the switchblade ban and properly clarify the definition of a gravity knife, something which has caused confusion and inconsistencies in enforcement (see NYC).

“HB 5544 provides clarity and simplicity for citizens of this State, visitors, especially those involved in the outdoor pursuits, as well as law enforcement, with respect to knives,” said Michigan state Rep. Frank Foster in the press release (pictured right). “It eliminates archaic terms, such as dirk and stiletto, and makes clear that a violation of the law occurs if a person with criminal intent carries any knife.”

Along with repealing the ban on switchblades, the legislation would also lessen the ban on fixed-blade knives. It would make the law more amenable to hunters, fishermen, hikers and those who use fixed blades for work.

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Before his death in 2012, Bob Loveless spent decades making a big impact on the knife making community by creating some of the most innovative knives around the world.

Now, his legacy is being honored in a documentary premiering on April 26 at the Beverly Hills Film Festival called “Robert Loveless, An American Legend.”

According to the film festival site, the documentary explores the legend of the man and how he became a superstar in the custom knife world. It also looks at his personality, gentle and fearless, but not without its flaws.

For those of you in the Los Angeles area, I recommend checking it out. Here’s the information about where/when/how to see the film from Joe Kertzman’s blog at Blade Magazine:

The screening will take place as follows:

Clarity Theater
100 North Crescent Drive
Beverly Hills

Red Carpet at 5:30 p.m.
Film Runs from 6:00 – 7:20 p.m.

This will be followed immediately by a cocktail reception. For those who will join Wormser, Lucarelli and Ellis, they are also hosting a pre-theatre get-together at 4:00 p.m. at Mel’s Diner, 8585 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood.

Please RSVP to Ed Wormser at edw11@aol.com.

Although there’s no information on whether the film is currently slated for a wider release, it’ll be interesting to see if it comes out on DVD for knife enthusiasts to buy.

One of the most despised organizations in the United States is the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). It’s hard to find anyone who says anything good about the TSA because it’s inefficient, intrusive and many times ineffective. Nevertheless, I’m here to say that the TSA runs one of the most interesting blogs on the net.

If you haven’t had the chance to visit the site, I highly recommend it. It has some pretty helpful tips for traveling with hunting gear, latest news from the TSA and a “week in review” segment.

So, what does this have to do with knives?

Well, in nearly every weekly review, the TSA reveals some inventive or clever way people try to smuggle knives, guns, drugs, fire crackers, stun grenades and much more through security.

For example, this week the media seized on one case where a man tried to smuggle a knife on board by hiding it in a full jar of mayonnaise. Of course, the jar of mayonnaise was also a restricted item, so both objects were confiscated.

Hiding knives (and other confiscated items) in other items is nothing new if you’re a reader of the TSA blog. For the week ending on March 30, the TSA found a pocket knife in a deodorant cap, a knife inside a tissue box (yeah, like tissue would hide it from X-ray machines) and a gun inside a gutted book. In previous weeks, a knife was found inside a laptop and many many more were in people’s carry-on luggage.

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Washington state signed into law last week pro-knife legislation that clarifies the definition of switchblades and allows certain government employees to carry spring blade knives.

HB 2347, touted as a job creator among other things, allows spring blade knives to be made in the state and used by law enforcement, military personnel and fire and rescue workers.

According to a House Republicans of Washington state press release, it was a gross misdemeanor to manufacture, sell or have a spring blade knife in the state before this new legislation. Sometimes the army issues spring blade knives and that meant active military personnel were subject to violation of the state law. This new law changes all of that.

Here’s a quote about the effectiveness of the bill from one of the bill’s supporters Bruce Dammeier:

“This bill is good for two reasons. First, it will provide our ‘save-and-serve’ personnel with a better tool as they protect our communities. Secondly, it will allow a local manufacturer to expand its operations and not be forced to relocate to another state,” said Dammeier, R-Puyallup. “This is an example of how a small bill can make a big difference when it comes to job creation in our communities – at no cost to taxpayers.”

By allowing companies to manufacture spring blade knives, officials are hoping it prevents companies from moving to more lenient states and enables current knife manufacturers to hire more people to work making spring blade knives.

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