Raises an interesting problem for the FAA. It is now quite obvious to the World in general that removing sharp objects from the possession of pilots is a useless exercise. All travellors are now graphically aware that there is a weapon in the cockpit capable of inflicting violent and bloody injury. The FAA now has three choices.
a. Admit that their "no sharp instrument rule" is a futile exercise in feelgood public relations.. .b. Remove the crash axe from the cockpit on the grounds that it could be used by one pilot to dispatch the other and hence take control of the aircraft for his/her own evil purposes.. .c. Put the Sky Marshal in the cockpit instead of the cabin.
Items b. or c. would be an open public admission that the FAA does not trust its own certified pilots. If the FAA demonstrates in public that it does not trust its pilots why should a passenger trust that pilot with his life? The US government is trying to get passengers back into the air by emphasing how safe the skies are with the new security measures. Interesting that, after all the baggage inspections, all the security checks a nut got onto an aeroplane and the day was saved by these mistrusted crew mwmbers, even though the FAA had pretty effectively disarmed them. Good job folks!