The idea of terrorist using box cutters, or a full blown knife, was rendered obsolete on 9/11/2001.
The American mentality up until 9/11 was "Give them what they want. Don't resist or you will provoke them. I will do nothing to upset them because I don't want to get hurt". And the high jackers played it very well for the first 3 planes. Once the passengers of flight 93 found out what was the intent and knew that they would died if they didn't kill them, all of the sudden getting slashed wasn't such a concern. I believe there were a few other instances of crazy passengers being killed by a bunch of other passengers since then.
I think anyone trying to gain control of an airline these days just asked to be killed by the rest of the passengers. Now add a bunch of pissed of passengers that just had to deal with TSA bafoons. And I really don't know where they find the folks who work for TSA. I do remember what it used to be. At some airports you would have a hard time finding a screener that spoke English like at La Guardia and JFK.
For boxcutters up to a 3" knife don't scare me that much. Perhaps if taken by surprise, yes. A bat to me is a deadlier weapon. My 2nd year as a cop I chased some some drunk idiot shoplifter in to a driveway. He turns around and reaches in his pocket. That scared the shit out of me as I beginning to back up and unholster my gun. He pulls out a box cutter on me. My adreleline was already kicked in but as he beat me to a draw and pulled out a cutter I was extremely pissed I was resolved to hurt him. Technically the guy threatened me with deadly force but I didn't pull my gun out.
During this whole ordeal the only time I yelled anything at him was when I initially called his attention and yelled for him to stop as he began to run. The rest was done without a word between the two of us. I snatched out my ASP baton and closed in expecting to get cut. That's the infantryman in me, it never goes away. I know that I was supposed to hit his hand or arm with the cutter but I said f-it and clobbered him on the side of his cranium right behind his ear. Had this been the middle ages it would have been a swift head chopping with a sword. I might have subconciously been thinking back to my days at the bayonet course (no longer taught) thinking "I am the spirit of the bayonet, kill, kill, kill" as I was doing that. There are just somethings that are not taught at the PD academy. Home run, he dropped like a sack of potatoes. I was so pissed I thought I killed him but I didn't care because he obviously was already intent to use deadly force. Unfortunately he didn't die. Nor did he sustain any life threatening injuries.
Striking the head is a big no-no and that is considered deadly force. I could have easily explained that I tried to strike his hand and missed hitting his head instead...orrrr I could have just pulled my gun out and shot him in the chest. It all turned out well as I just took his dumb ass to the hospital and he got checked out and booked. He also was charged for assault 3rd degree, a gross misdemeanor, and not attempted murder, and I was Ok with that. After I did exactly what I intended to do which was getting satisfaction by nailing the crap out of him with one single hit as his legs turned to cooked spaghetti and he went down and whacked the other side of his head on the pavement. It was classic.
I was younger, quicker and stronger then and it was dumb. Now I would have just plugged him and call it a day. So the idiot was lucky AFAIC.
So it was a complete surprise, shock, and horror when I heard about how the planes were high jacked. I though to myself I don't know if I would let some turd hold a box cutter at me not while I'm capable to defend myself.
So now TSA dweebs hassle us at the airports, removing nail clippers, little objects, water, and stupid stuff to say the least all in the interest of public safety when we all know anyone who would try to high jack a plane EVEN WITH A GUN, probably just asked to be killed.
Next time you guys ride a plane look around and see what can be used as a weapon. I guarantee a felon who spent hard time would find a lot.
You gotta wonder why the high jackers didn't try that crap on Southwest Airlines.