Hoover Dam - can't get in visitor center with a knife.

[MTPockets]

We're in Las Vegas for 8 nights and decided to visit Hoover Dam. We were there 40 years ago and wanted to see it again... The area was really crowded and parking was scarce, but we found space about as far away up the hill as you can get... A really long walk down. After getting some pics of the Dam and the new bridge, we took the 54 steps down into the visitor center and had to empty pockets and walk through x-rays. I carry a really small folding knife on my keychain and was advised that could not enter. I've had this piece 40+ years, so we had to leave - back up the 54 steps, then back to the truck which was exhausting... My pen or camera, or credit cards would do more damage than that knife! Oh well, that's our Feds at work.

 

[BouseBill]

Well...you could be a terrorist, take employees hostage, do all sorts of diabolical things with that pen knife, jam it into a generator shaft, cause the shaft to overheat, catch on fire, burn the dam to the point it collapses in on itself, the dam ceases to hold water, all the dams downstream in turn collapse causing the Colorado River to return to a native and wild state. Las Vegas in turn looses all their electrical power generated by the dam, all the casinos must close, thousands of Las Vegans lose their jobs, all because some govern’ment employee let you in with a pen knife. Think about it…. can’t be too careful these days. I'm surprised they still give tours.
[FONT=&quot]The wife and I just finished up 4 months camp hosting for a government agency that controls a lot of the dams. They did not give tours of the dam….We could not get a tour either.[/FONT]

 

[ILH]

Jst imagine what Macgyver could do with a pen knife!

 

[FiremanBill]

Gov't... overreacting to everything since... well... forever...

 

[MTPockets]

Well...you could be a terrorist, take employees hostage, do all sorts of diabolical things with that pen knife, jam it into a generator shaft, cause the shaft to overheat, catch on fire, burn the dam to the point it collapses in on itself, the dam ceases to hold water, all the dams downstream in turn collapse causing the Colorado River to return to a native and wild state. Las Vegas in turn looses all their electrical power generated by the dam, all the casinos must close, thousands of Las Vegans lose their jobs, all because some govern’ment employee let you in with a pen knife. Think about it…. can’t be too careful these days. I'm surprised they still give tours.
The wife and I just finished up 4 months camp hosting for a government agency that controls a lot of the dams. They did not give tours of the dam….We could not get a tour either.

You're right; I could take that 1" long blade and throw fear into those security guards with nothing but 9mm pistols.

 

[Crumgater]

Yeah, no logic when there are RULES to obey! Geez.

I had to drive over Hoover Dam after 9/11 (on 9/13)... through multiple stop/check-points and vehicle searches. Hoover Dam is considered a major target.

That new bridge is like heaven for commuters! and it's an AMAZING piece of engineering. The first time I saw it, it was just a few pieces of concrete arching out to nowhere... just amazing.

 

[TandT]

I agree, I'm surprised they still allow tours. Sooner or later I bet they stop.
Saw it years ago. An amazing stucture. It's so clean inside you could almost eat off the floors. Trace

 

[jdfishing]

Homeland Security at its finest. The dam is secure, but they let some nut case jump the fence and enter the Whitehouse. No problem here.

 

[sengli]

Its not the same world we grew up in. Its a shame this is our new normal. I have myself lost at least 4 pocket knives when trying to get on an airplane, obviously forgetting I had it in my pocket.

 

[Lynn1130]

On the other hand, where does the poor government employee who is charged with enforcing the rules draw the line, and if he/she does make a command decision on one size knife allowing it through, and something goes wrong what will our comments be then?

Unfortunately, the poor GI in the trenches does not get to make common sense decisions once the rule is in effect. If we don't like it we need to see that changes are made in the rule.

So, yes the knife was probably harmless and so you are allowed in but the guy behind you has a knife that is a half inch longer on his key chain and he is stopped, well what then?

 

[JeromyS]

I would love to see places like this offer locker rental for your things that cannot pass. I would pay to keep my pocket knife and not have to walk back - also turns onto an extra revenue source.

It certainly isn't the same world. I am quite a bit younger than most here at 33 but I remember when my parents let me ride in the car without a seatbelt and when fear of my button being whooped stopped me from doing stupid things. These days there are too many rules for everything.

 

[Lynn1130]

Most all airports no longer have locker rentals. Too easy to leave a bomb in the locker. Same would be true with dams. OK, can't get that backpack through then let's leave it in a locker. This would slow down lines, bog down check points and cause more upkeep and additional security issues for lockers. The multimillion dollar bridge that is now beside the dam is because of the chance that someone will decide to drive a bomb filled truck onto the dam and set it off. (9-11). I do appreciate the fact that this cut the trip to Las Vegas down by at least 30 minutes.

People doing dangerous and dumb things that affect the rest of us cause more rules. There is way too much "all about me" today.

 

[olcoon]

Before I retired as a deputy sheriff, I had to make numerous extraditions all over the US picking up prisoners. We were required to carry our firearms on the plane. I thought it was pretty dumb, that here I was with the proper paperwork to carry a firearm on an airplane, but they always asked me if I had any knives. I always carry a pocketknife, and I always said no. Kind of dumb if you ask me. I'm carrying a .45 semi-automatic sidearm, and they are concerned that I've got a pocketknife!!! Go figure!

 

[TandT]

I was waiting for a flight and security was strip searching a 80+ year old man. They found nail clippers and confiscated them, yet my sister-in-law is allowed to carry on 18" aluminum knitting needles. Go figure? Trace

 

[FiremanBill]

I was waiting for a flight and security was strip searching a 80+ year old man. They found nail clippers and confiscated them, yet my sister-in-law is allowed to carry on 18" aluminum knitting needles. Trace

TSA is the biggest waste of taxpayer dollrs ever!

 

[donr827]

It's crazy but here in Florida if you want to carry a knife in your pocket, any size, you have to have a concealed weapon license. Not sure how hard they enforce it but if you go into any place with a scanner they will get you.Don

 

[Rddocatt]

After 27 yrs with Anaheim PD I have to agree with you. The 80 yr old is not the danger but Eric Holder says we cant profile now either. Watch out for the pocket knife and 1 inch blade. Not even Hannibal Lector could
do damage with it

 

[MTPockets]

Contrast this with Cody, WY where 10 yr old boys playing in the downtown park with sheathed 4" blades on their belt... I thought that was wonderful and the way it should be; actually it was when I was that age in Ohio.

 

[Bohemian]

Someone practiced and with intent to kill can kill you with a 1" blade or a knitting needle. Having restrictions in certain places is perfectly reasonable. Expecting perfect policies is absurd.

 

[BouseBill]

ahhh you can kill someone with an ink pen or pencil. That is what is so ridiculous about some of the so called reasonable restrictions. You want to break someones arm? use a soda wrapped in a towel and take a good swing! Just about anything can be used as a weapon, and you don't have to be a MacGyver.