'Cat eyes' banned: TSA urges passengers to keep weapons out of carry-ons

The Transportation Security Administration is asking travelers to remove "cat eyes" from carry-on bags before arriving at the airport after a recent increase in these weapons appearing at the TSA checkpoints, slowing security lines.

According to the TSA, "cat eyes" are weapons designed to look like cats, similar to brass knuckles. The eyes on these "cat eyes" are holes where users can put their fingers through, and the sharp and pointy ears could then be used as weapons.

In 2022, Army veteran David Jakubonis used a "cat eye" weapon to attack U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican nominee for New York Governor, at a campaign event in Perinton. Zeldin was not harmed in the attack, but in Dec. of 2023, Jakubonis was sentenced to three months probation for the misdemeanor crime of assaulting a federal officer.

More: Lee Zeldin, GOP candidate for NY governor, attacked during campaign speech near Rochester

TSA stated that "cat eyes", many of which are found attached to key chains, can vary from metal to plastic, some are even manufactured to look like dogs. All forms of "cat eyes", TSA said, are intended to cause harm and are not allowed onto airplanes unless in a checked bag.

“The frequency in which we are seeing these items among carry-on items is disappointing,” said Bart R. Johnson, TSA’s Federal Security Director for 13 airports in Upstate New York. "We come across these items daily, and it slows down passengers who must stop and wait for our officers to remove the offending item, and it backs up the line for the other travelers.”

When passengers are detected with these weapons, they are pulled to the side and further searched to locate them. Passengers are then given the option to either return the item to their vehicle, hand it over to a non-traveling companion, place it in a checked bag, or surrender it to TSA personnel for disposal. Because of this, TSA stated that these "cat eyes" have been slowing down the security lines, creating a longer process for passengers to get to their flights.

— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who edited our Weld Street Project and also did reporting for it. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: TSA warns to remove 'cat eyes' weapons from luggage to avoid delays