Monday, September 16, 2024

TSA Warns Of Rise In Passengers Trying To Carry "Cat's Eyes" Onto Planes

One of the consequences of the constant effort to disarm Americans so that they are helpless in the face of a terrorist or other violent criminal is an arms race to develop defensive tools that might get through a security checkpoint and into a non-permissive environment. And thus this recent headline from the Daily Mail: "What are 'cat eyes'? TSA issues urgent warning over surge in passengers carrying banned items." The article describes them as follows:

    Cat eyes are self-defense weapons similar to brass knuckles, but have pointed edges shaped like a cat's ears.

    The user slips two of their fingers through two holes - the eyes - then close their fists so the sharp
[sic: pointy] edges [the ears] are sticking out. This allows the person to slash at others with a punch.

Basically, the "ears" of the cat head shape act like spikes on a knuckleduster, but the device has the overall appearance of a cute cat's head. And the TSA does not like them because an increasing number of people are trying to sneak them through airport security. 

    The TSA has been aware of the proliferation of cat eyes since last year, when the agency amended a rule to classify cat eyes as a type of brass knuckle.

    Brass knuckles, like cat eyes, are not allowed in carry-on bags but can be stowed away in checked bags.

    If a passenger is found to have cat eyes in their bag at a security line, officers will pull them aside and search their bags.

    They can either return the weapon to their car, hand it off to someone that isn't traveling with them or hand it over to an agent so it can be disposed.

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