Small knives and certain sports equipment will be permitted on flight to expedite security check.

Recently, TSA reconsidered their 11-year ban on certain carry-on items, and has reached the conclusion to allow passengers to carry small knives as well as some sports equipment onboard. This policy, to be implemented on April 25, has resulted in uproar and protests from citizens across the nation because it not only puts the passengers’ safety at risk, but also displays insensitivity toward the families of the 9/11 victims.

Advocates of this decision have claimed that with less focus on detecting “trivial” items such as pocketknives and batting equipment, TSA agents may now focus on finding hidden bombs and much larger threats. In addition, to the passengers’ benefit, they may also skip the tedious checking for such items at checkpoint. However, it is much more likely that the TSA’s plans will backfire by hindering the efficiency of the checkpoint process even more with agents having to measure each item to see if the knives of sporting equipment are of appropriate length to bring onboard. The TSA’s decision also comes with a large repercussion: the lessened sense of security that should rightfully be given to every citizen onboard. The TSA has ensured the public that there are regulations on what types of knives and sports equipment may be allowed, but regardless of the size of the blade or the length of the bat, both may be easily converted into lethal weapons. When it comes down to the item’s ability to harm a passenger or pilot, the measurements are not going to matter. In addition, with lack of security or guards onboard, the crew members are vulnerable to an attack. The dismissal of such important regulations only serves to heighten the chance of potential attacks, injuries, and terrorist activities being carried out.

The lift on the ban is also serious offense to those affected by the 9/11 attack. The small blades now allowed onboard can easily be used similarly to the box cutters the terrorists had used during 9/11 when they hijacked the plane during flight. Because of the possibility of another terrorist attack with small blades onboard, affected family members have felt betrayed and hurt. Sally Regenhard, the mother of a firefighter killed during the 9/11 attack, expressed her disgust and confusion while commenting on the absurdity of the TSA’s decision to allow blades on board but still restrict a cup of yogurt from passing through checkpoint. The initial implementation of the regulations after the 9/11 attack was a sign of promise that the TSA would do its best to prevent any kind of terrorist threats and protect the lives of innocent family members. With the new rule, however, the TSA has broken this promise to the brokenhearted and the fearful.

The TSA’s distasteful choice will not only become a loophole for terrorists, but will also create emotional distress for relatives of 9/11 victims. The thorough process of examining each passenger’s carry-on and restricting the possession of certain items on board may be tedious, but may also be the very means to reduce the risk of another major catastrophe. If the goal is to ultimately quicken the checkpoint process, there are other alternatives besides allowing lethal weapons onboard. Safety should always come first and, in this case, before the convenience of saving time.