tintedpane.com

bq. We were on our way into the Johnson Space Center when we approached the security checkpoint. The guard stationed there asked us if we had any weapons. One of our group members, Bob*, asked if knives were allowed. The officer said he’d have to take a look at it to see. Bob pulls out a small blade about 3″ long. The officer then told him it was too big to carry in. Bob then pulls out another knife with a slightly longer blade. Then he reaches over his head to where his shirt tag would be and pulls out another smaller blade. “Are you planning to bring a small army into the center?” asks the officer. “Err, no…” At this point me and Ruban can’t contain our laughter. The guard then asks Bob’s girlfriend if she has any weapons. She procedes to pull out two knives and shows her keyfob to the guard and asks if that’s allowed in there. The keyfob turns out to be a knurled rod with a blunt tip about 5″ long and designed as a defensive weapon. We’re basically rolling on the floor laughing at this point. “This has really made my day” the guard offers.

Let me mention that Bob is a small guy, maybe 5′6″ and weighing a buck fifteen. And he’s a martial arts instructor. His reasoning which he later explained to us, was to protect himself and those he’s with in that ONE situation where he might need to fight. The knives are places at various points on his body so that one is always accessible whether he was just knocked down (his ankle knife), pushed against a wall (shirt collar), etc…