Arm Pilots

[benos]

I got the post below in an email. The most fundamental "right" we have, as humans, not "countries" is to choose to be responsible for our own life (lives). This means having (not being denied) the means to protect ourselves at all times.

be

Closing the Cockpit Loophole

by Captain Duane Shaw

duaneshaw@compuserve.com

September 19, 2001

Could four handguns have saved thousands of lives?

The short answer is yes. Airplanes are controlled by pilots. Without pilots,

airplanes are 150 ton 500mph guided petroleum missiles. We have just seen the

potential of aircrafts used as assault weapons. 

Let me introduce myself. I am an airline Captain for the worlds second

largest airline. I have been flying airplanes professionally for twenty one

years. I have dealt with engine failures, aircraft system failures, aircraft

navigation equipment failures, Air Traffic Control failures and airline

management failures. Through it all, nothing has scared me more in aviation

than the people I carry in the back of the plane. Why? Because I have had to

deal with drug crazed and drunk passengers, air ragers, and people who are

just scared. I have learned that all these people are unpredictable and

dangerous. (just the opposite of law abiding gun owners). And now we have a

new type of passenger. A diabolical warrior filled with more hate than ten

Tim McVeighs.

What about Air Marshals? Not the best idea. An Air Marshal in the back of the

aircraft can be identified, distracted and overwhelmed, even if armed. The

pilots however have a cockpit door to get through. And a kevlar cockpit door

would be a formidable obstacle for anyone to breech. Also, there are over

eight thousand flight segments per day in the U.S. The cost of putting an Air

Marshall on each flight would be prohibitive. Especially when you have two

highly qualified professionals in the nerve center (cockpit) of the airplane

who can do the job.

Is it dangerous for pilots to carry guns? No. Pilots are some of the most

mentally, physically and psychologically tested people on earth. Additionally

we are drug and alcohol tested all the time. We are highly educated, have a

unique understanding of how mechanical things work, and have eye/hand

coordination second to none. We are also required to undergo rigorous

recurrent training and checkrides every nine months. (A great place for

firearms requal.) There is no safer group of individuals to issue defensive

firearms to. 

What about shooting in a pressurized cabin? Will the airplane blow up? No. Do

not be fooled by movies showing an explosive decompression in the cabin after

a gun is fired. The pressurized fuselage of an aircraft already has many

holes in it for regulating pressurization and air flow. The aluminum alloy

skin of the aircraft is a quarter inch thick and capable of taking direct

hits from most handguns without fracture. Even the cabin windows are

incredibly thick and strong and capable of taking hits without failure,

especially if using a frangible bullet. Even if they did penetrate the

fuselage, several additional small holes would not make any difference in the

ability to maintain pressure. 

But let's not lose the forest for the trees here. Just remember the scenario

that would require gunfire in an aircraft. It would be the last line of

defense before turning the aircraft over to a terrorist for him to complete

his mission - to kill hundreds or thousands of you. 

Fights between pilots in the cockpit? Does not happen. In twenty one years of

professional flying with five different airlines, I have never been involved

in an altercation with another pilot. I have never even heard of this

happening. How many police get into arguments, draw their weapons and kill

each other while on duty?

Still do not want guns on airplanes eh? In any given week of flying I will

carry one to five armed individuals on my aircraft. They are IRS agents,

Postal Inspectors, DEA agents, FBI agents, Secret Service agents, state and

local law enforcement, and virtually anyone else authorized by the government

to carry a weapon. There is no restriction on the size or type of gun they

carry.

All I am asking is to not be defenseless. Give me a fighting chance to save

my passengers, crew, aircraft and people on the ground from a psycho or

terrorist. Lets close this cockpit loophole.

I am hearing over and over on TV and the radio from elected officials how we

are going to have to give up freedom and liberties for additional security

provided by our government. This is not acceptable. I have a right to defend

my family from harm at home. Why can't I have the same right in my aircraft

at work? If we adopt a bunker mentality and start voluntarily giving up

freedom, then we have already lost. Let me defend my aircraft and cockpit

with the best tools available. 

So, would four handguns have saved thousands of people from knife wielding

terrorists? Please respond to this letter, and if you agree, please start

making demands on your elected officials.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Related Reading

Airplanes & Guns: Myths and Reality

from Angel Shamaya

H.R. 2896 -- Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001

Support this bill. Contact your Representatives.

H.R. 2896 Will Arm Pilots

? GOA Urges Congress to Pass Bill Arming Pilots

? Rep. Paul says his bill will save lives if enacted

Free Gun Training for Commercial Pilots

--Front Sight Steps Up to the Plate

Urgent - Eliminate terror on commercial aircraft:

"Airline Safety and Anti-terrorism Act of 2001"

from Gary S. Marbut/MSSA/TOS, President, Montana Shooting Sports Association

U.S. Code Regarding Carrying of Weapons on Planes

--KeepAndBearArms.com

An Examination of Airport Security

from Michael Z. Williamson

The F.A.A. "Increased Security Measures" Are Insultingly Fraudulent

? Press Release from the F.A.A.

? And a KeepAndBearArms.com Response, Plus Action Steps

The Airplane and Air Flight Laws of Physics

from Angel Shamaya

[Ron Ankeny]

Damn right.

[EricW]

What's really stunning is that pilots can't do this already.  My father was a commercial pilot for years and always shook his head at the stupidity of the metal detectors.  Everyone in the industry has known for years that the security procedures are bogus.  

I flew out of Phoenix last Thursday night, and not 12 hours after the new security procedures were in place they were being ignored by the troglodytes running the security checkpoint.  What a joke!!  6000 people dead and nothing had changed - they didn't even care.

As an aside, aircraft hijackings were the impetus behind creating the Glaser safety slug.  So, the tools already exist.  Let's use them!!