Prior to 9/11, but when there were already inspections and such:

A pilot and co-pilot had some time and decided to go through security. A new, gung-ho, inspector held the that the pilot's 1 inch blade Swiss army knife was a "weapon" and confiscated it. The pilot objected, strenuously, but to no avail. Telling his co-pilot to watch his knife, he left the queu, went to his plane, and got a crash axe. Returning to the gate FROM THE OTHER SIDE, he showed the axe to the inspector, who told him it was a weapon and where did he get it from and how did he get it past security? The pilot replied, very loudly, that it was a crash axe, part of the plane's emergency equipment, that he couldn't take off without it, and now GIMME BACK MY POCKETKNIFE!

Even before 9/11/01 you couldn't crack jokes about guns, explosives, and so on in security inspection lines. It's not now; probably been in place for 25 years.

There IS a lot of official paranoia these days. You can't bring a small pocketknife on board or a pair of embroidery scissors with points, but you CAN come on board with a metal ball point pen and pencil set, your shoelaces (and even an extra pair), wearing a belt, and have large-sized paperclips in your briefcase. ALL of these can be used as weapons more dangerous than toenail scissors.

Besides, do something that endangers the aircraft and these days the passengers will sit on you!