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This Halloween, the TSA Would Like You to Check Your Pitchfork

According to the TSA fake weaponry -- including pretend grenades, chainsaws, machetes, axes, swords and "other realistic weapons" are not allowed in carry-on luggage.
tsa/Instagram
ByGENEVIEVE SHAW BROWN
October 16, 2014, 5:12 PM

— -- This Halloween, the TSA asks that you leave your pitchfork at home. Or at the very least, put in your checked luggage.

That's because fake weaponry -- including pretend grenades, chainsaws, machetes, axes, swords and "other realistic weapons" are not allowed in carry-on luggage. And many of those are not allowed in checked bags either.

In a post Wednesday, Bob Burns of the TSA Blog Team writes, "Most replica weapons can be transported in your checked baggage, but it’s never OK to pack anything that looks like (to include but not limited to) explosives such as grenades, land mines, rocket launchers, shells and bombs. Even if it’s a replica, anything resembling an explosive is treated as the real deal until the explosives experts can prove otherwise, which often leads to delayed flights or baggage."

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But what about costumes?

The TSA tells ABC News that costumes, as long as they are treated as any clothing would be (for example, jacket or shoe removal before screening) are fine to fly. But no masks at security, as agents need to verify the photo matches the passenger when checking ID and boarding pass. For the same reason, face paint won't fly.

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