The Transportation Security Administration announced on Tuesday that passengers would be able to bring small knives and sports equipment onto places starting in April. While the TSA says that the new policy will allow officers to spend more time looking for explosives, others say that the policy changes will put people in danger. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA says that while the objects may not be enough to bring down a plane, they could do substantial damage to passengers and staff on the plane. The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, which represents air marshals, and the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations said that they were also opposed to the policy because of the safety risks for passengers.
See "Airline workers criticize new TSA policy on small knives", Josh Hicks, The Washington Post, March 7, 2013