Posted on 09/06/2002 9:12:22 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants
Some stipulations the Bush administration attached to its support for arming commercial pilots:
* A test program must be undertaken to establish the viability of arming all 85,000 commercial pilots.
* Only pilots who volunteer to carry guns would do so, and they must undergo firearms training and safety instruction....
* Protocols should be established to coordinate pilot responsibilities....
* Pilots should be issued individual lock boxes ....
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Nearly $1 billion to start? What, are they all getting $1K Sigs?
This one is easy since it is a federal law authorizing these aircrew to be armed aboard aircraft any state statute that provides an impediment must be null and void under the supremacy clause. As to foreign nations who try to disarm our pilots the loss of landing rights for flights from those nations should bring every last one of them in line quite quickly.
Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown
I've got one...
Sir, are you flying today? Here's your gun.
Rule changes for Pilots: If you wish to carry while on duty get a CCW permit from your home state, provide YOUR OWN GUN and ammo, bring photo id (drivers license), CCW permit and Pilot ID to the airport. Pilots must notify any Marshals which might be on the plane (they are required to identify themselves to the pilots already) if they are armed.
Rule changes for TSA screeners: When a pilot sets off the x-ray alarm, ask to see his papers. If they provide all three mentioned, let them pass WITHOUT FURTHER HASTLE. If they can't - normal rules apply.
Changes to Law: Federal agencies will recognise individual state's CCW permits. States are required to recognize CCW permits from other states (Constitution says they have to anyway).
Done - program implemented. Cost to the feds (tax payers) would be MAYBE a hundred thousand to publish the rule changes and pass the law changes.
This would have the added benifit of pressuring states to adopt less restrictive CCW permit rules.
Never happen though
Huh?? The only SIG handgun anywhere near that costly is a P210, which is HIGHLY unlikely to be the weapon of choice. A NIB SIG can be had on the open (civilian) market for less than that. P229 .40, $675,P220 .45 $625, P228 9mm $700 (from an Aug. Gun List, note prices may be inflated due to inclusion of hi-cap mags). Now personally, I think a .357 mag revolver would be about perfect for the pilots. Minimal familiarity is required to be comfortable with a revolver--no safety to click off, no slide to rack, etc. A good revolver can be had for less than have that. Ruger SP101 NIB, $299-$325 and GP-100's (used) run $298 in the same Gun List. I'd note a new price on the GP-100's but there were none in this Gun List. I list ruger just as a personal preference. Taurus also makes excellent revolvers that are not pricey. Then, there's always S&W, but with the whole Clinton&Wesson fiasco, I chose to disregard them.
What if you're from one of those unfortunate states that prohibits CCW? What then?
Move
Pressure your state to change it's laws
H*ll, not even SIGS are that expensive! Unless they're tuned and tweaked that is.
All they need is a Ruger GP100 loaded with 38+P.
Semper Fi
Many sheriffs like there jobs and as such, have a positive policy ($100, background check, safety class = permit). I'm lucky enough to live in Adams county where that is still true. In fact, due to the changes in the law, a knife could also be considered a concealed weapon.
Been thinking about getting one myself.
Nice to see the federal government has caught up to the consensus reached on FR. Substitute "citizens" for "pilots" and we have a good start.
Why not simply allow pilots to carry their own side-arms? It is certainly inherently reasonable that the Captain of an air Ship should have the right to carry lethal force to protect himself and those dependent upon his competence and authority. People schooled in the American tradition--see The Right To Keep & Bear Arms--should ask why this need cost the taxpayers anything at all?
William Flax
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