Markey Wants TSA To Change Knife Policy

U.S. Rep. Ed Markey is pressing the Transportation Security Administration to abandon its new policy allowing passengers to carry small knives onto planes.

Markey on Saturday urged the TSA not to implement the policy, citing the opposition of flight attendants and federal law enforcement officers.

The policy goes into effect April 25. It will also allow passengers to include in their carry-on luggage novelty-size baseball bats less than 24 inches long, toy plastic bats, billiard cues, ski poles, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks and two golf clubs. Items like box cutters and razor blades are still prohibited.

Markey said in a letter to TSA Administrator John Pistole (PDF) that he is concerned about the safety of passengers and flight attendants and whether there was sufficient consultations with those who would suffer the most from an attack.