MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Iwakuni Air Mobility Command Terminal aboard the Station began enforcing a regulation Thursday, outlined by the Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which prohibits all travelers from carrying lighters beyond security checkpoints throughout the United States’ airports.
The Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 was signed into law Dec. 17, 2004, by President George W. Bush in an effort to unify the U.S. intelligence community so they could act as a more coordinated, cohesive and effective group. This Act also outlined many steps that will increase security for American citizens and service members directly.
The Transportation Security Administration has placed lighters on a list of prohibited items including weapons, explosives, incendiaries, and items that are seemingly harmless but may be used as weapons, the so-called “dual use” items.
Because of the fact that terrorists constantly evolve their techniques to skirt authorities, new measures must be put in place, according to Pvt. Jaime Davis, Iwakuni AMC Terminal air terminal operations center controller. In recent history, many objects, not identified as weapons to most, have been used by terrorists in attempted or successful criminal acts; shoes, box cutters, cellular phones and household tools found in most garages.
When going through terminal security checkpoints, travelers carrying lighters will be given two options; surrender the lighter to terminal security, or give it to someone who is not traveling for safe keeping.
“If you’re in the states and have a valuable Zippo lighter, or anything you don’t want confiscated when you travel, don’t take it with you because you might lose it,” said Davis.
In an effort to accommodate passengers who smoke, the terminal will have courtesy lighters that can be checked out for a short period of time in order to light a cigarette.
Although lighters will not be allowed onboard the aircraft, passengers will be allowed to carry up to four books of matches.
“The only kind of matches that won’t be allowed are the ‘strike anywhere’ matches,” said Davis.
Strike anywhere matches are able to be ignited by rubbing it against any hard surface to include a zipper.
“The reason for this ban is strictly for the safety and security of our passengers,” Davis added. “The Terminal will accommodate all travelers as best we can, but the fact of the matter is no lighters will be allowed in the terminal or aircraft.”
For more information contact Iwakuni AMC Terminal at 253-5509.