Senator Tells TSA: Arm Pilots or Lose Funding

Cybercast News Service. ^ | April 02, 2004 | Robert B. Bluey

[John Jorsett]

Barbara BOXER, Überlib, is behind this? Reality disconnect.

[My2Cents]

Barbara Boxer IS a flaming wreck!

[My2Cents]

an army of 100 million armed patriots... would go a long way to "pacify" would be terrorists, theifs, robbers and criminals in general.

I agree with you 1000% percent.

[KangarooJacqui]

btw... discharging a 357 in an airplane won't wreck the plane. it's just clattertrap for the anti gunners.

Cheers for pointing that out. Worst case scenario, one or two holes shot in airframe, cabin pressure can still be maintained, plane has to land at nearest airport.

Still better than fighter pilots in F-16's having to shoot fully-laden 747's out of the sky, killing something like 420 people... (BTW, has anyone been on a half-empty plane since 9/11? I sure haven't. Every single flight I've taken, domestic and international, with several airlines, has been packed to the gills...)

[My2Cents]

Reality disconnect.

Not really. (psst...it's an election year...)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Rather amazing.

[Skybird]

BUMP!!

Jim Bunning lets loose a fastball right down the middle of the plate, striking out the numb-brained TSA!!

The whole issue of "bullet holes through the fuselage" is solved with wet toilet paper or paper towels stuck in the hole (like we did in the -135 all the time around the doors with air leaks). The water freezes and, voila, instant plug. This is a non-issue.

[mississippi red-neck]

Believe it or not but Boxer and Feinstein have been on board on this issue since the beginning. They where both original sponsors of the bill along with a number of others both Democrat and Republican.

I even remember Feinstein being one of the key speakers on the floor of the Senate vigorously arguing for passage. I thought something was wrong with my TV. This legislation was presented a short time after 9/11 when sentiment was strong. That's the only reason I can figure they got on board.

[Cold Heat]

The loads they are using probably would not penetrate all the way through, but would Knock the crap out of someone at close range.

[steveegg]

BOXER is for this, there's got to be a catch

There is; she wants the TSA to lose the funding.

[Libertina]

Does Norm Minetta have his hands in this?

[Imal]

The reasons for the delays are explained by these immutable laws of guns and gun violence:

1) You can't trust a person responsible for safeguarding the lives of hundreds of people 7 miles above the earth with a gun.

2) Pilots are mere citizens, and not entitled to assert collective rights.

3) A pilot is 43 times more likely to be shot by his own gun than to use it against a burglar, I mean hijacker.

4) Any pilot who wants to carry a gun must be a part of the Culture of Violence and thus must be carefully evaluated in an appropriate medical interrogation facility.

5) If there's a hijacking, they should just call 9-11 and let the professionals handle it. Don't Be a Hero(tm).

6) If these delays can save the life of just once child, it will have been worth it.

The TSA is just trying to protect us from ourselves.

(Instead of terrorism)

[Imal]

One solution for every problem is the mark of genius.

[b4its2late]

I still can't believe that Boxer is involved in this. She must be having nightmares every night about it. She's just hoping to get re-elected then she'll do something to screw it up when she's safely back in office.

[neverdem]

Does Norm Minetta have his hands in this?

AFAIK, he's been kicking and screaming, along with the airlines CEOs, against armed pilots from the beginning. They hope the slim chance that an air marshall will be aboard, airport security and the combat air patrol is sufficient.

I think the terrorists will wait years before they try another attack like Sep 11, 2001 so that people let their guard down. That's why the pilots must be armed.

[neverdem]

LOL

[henderson field]

TSA head and Clinton appointee Yoshio "Norman" Mineta is only following his parents' lead in resisting assimilation in America. He mother and father were charged as saboteurs and interned in a camp during WWII. The fact that he is still here is proof of their humane treatment. According to military intalligence, not revisionist historians, 10% of those interned were saboteurs and the other 90% supported them with their silence. How many Japanese were turned in by other Japanese? And so, Lockheed and the other aircraft factories were spared. It is time to intern the islamic fundamentalists and muslims in America. This is far preferable to taking away the freedoms of real Americans.

[Libertina]

agree with you

[Travis McGee]

Not only would pilots have to be trained within 90 days, but it would also allow pilots with a military or law enforcement background to be armed immediately.

Hallelujah!!!

[Oztrich Boy]

Know what is better than a ...< snip> ... hijacker who ... < snip> ... is hanging on for dear life and puking his guts out. As soon as he stops puking he will be in custody.

A hijacker whose guts have been scrambled by two Glaser Safety Slugs.

No custody. No lawsuits from 400 other passengers.