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Table 7
Prohibited Items Intercepted at U.S. Airport Screening Checkpoints: 2003 and 2004

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Items 2003 2004
Other cutting instruments 2,973,413 3,567,731
Knives 1,961,849 2,058,652
Incendiaries and explosive/flammable materials 494,123 693,649
Clubs 25,139 28,813
Box cutters 20,991 22,350
Firearms 683 650
Other 638,414 717,754
Total prohibited items 6,114,612 7,089,599

Notes: Other cutting instruments includes scissors, hatchets, swords, sabers, meat cleavers, ice axes, and picks.

Knives includes any length and type except round-bladed, butter, and plastic cutlery.

Clubs includes martial arts items, baseball bats, night sticks, hammers, pool cues, and billy clubs.

Firearms includes any weapon (including a starter gun) that is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, as well as spear guns, BB guns, flare pistols, compressed air guns, and stunning devices.

Other refers to tools, self-defense items, compressed gas cylinders, bleach, and certain sporting goods.

For further clarification about terms, see http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Permitted_Prohibited_9_6_2005.pdf.

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, personal communication, July 2005.