Posted on 03/09/2005 7:21:32 AM PST by gonehuntin
Someone, PLEASE explain how an Air Marshall, with his weapon drawn, bouncing around in coach class, is a safer & more effect way to stop a hijacker than an armed pilot defending a small cockpit doorway?????
ping
TSA
Them Stupid A$$es.
Armed and dangerous, all the way.
But hey, Mr. and Mrs. Duffus Americanas, Don't you "feel safer"?
John Magaw was a criminal failure at the ATF under Klinton and was even worse at the TSA. He should have been arrested, not fired.
1) marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness : CLAMOROUS
2) stubbornly resistant to control : UNRULY
synonym see VOCIFEROUS
Google returns 62,800 hits on this word, seemingly mostly dictionary references.
There was a thread earlier this week about an off duty TSA officer shooting a party goer outside his apartment.
All it takes is one bad egg to spoil the barrel.
TSA is evil, and the Bush administration should ashamed of not cleaning it up.
Here are the 2, and only 2 options.
1) Armed pilot takes out hijacker in cockpit
2) F-16 shoots the plane out of the sky, killing everyone.
Those are the choices people. Which do you prefer?
I think in this case though, the barrel itself spoiled many of the good eggs that ended up in it!
It would seem that perhaps the Air Marshals should be subjected to a mental stability test before letting them fly our airways. We don't need a nut case with a gun "protecting" the airplane. Of course this statement assumes that the reporter has not added his own twist to the story. Frankly, I would rather see all airline pilots armed anyway. Most of these guys are X-military pilots with lots of experience, and if we can't trust them with our lives we are in big trouble.
One big problem with the program to allow pilots to have guns was the requirement to do extensive psychological testing. The testing was of course "necessary" to make sure they were stable enough to have a gun.
The problem is, what happens if you are a pilot and you fail the exam? What airline is going to allow you to be a pilot after they know you aren't stable enough to carry a gun?
This discouraged most pilots from applying for the program.
They are, and at their own cost. They go through plethora of rigorous tests and can be booted out of the program without any explanation, at any time.
Not much mention is being made on this subject of the fact that at this point in history, a majority of airline captains are still former military, such as myself. I was Air Force and held the "Small Arms Marksmanship" ribbon with several clusters. Arming of airline pilots, especially captains, isn't just a "shot in the dark" (sorry!) at fixing the security problem. Remember, our training actually started many years ago in our former lives defending this country. I also hold a current "Concealed Weapon Carry" permit that is valid in nearly twenty states. My home is in Florida and they don't just hand these permits out at the mall.
Airline pilots are probably the most stable, experienced and sane people on any flight. They want to land safely as their seat on the plane is where the aluminum hits the ground when things go wrong.
To say they need extensive training before allowed to be armed is just bunk. The TSA has filled out its air marshal ranks with people of questionable skills, but says pilots have to jump hoops before allowed to be armed--more bunk.
C: Allow Joe Schmuckatelly and Jane Average Citizen to carry if they want. That way, when Abdula decides to try and take over the plane, he has to do so through a hail of return fire. If Mr. TSA Air Marshal badass has one too many while on duty, he's gotta behave himself with the Civvies or risk getting his punk behind in a bind.
One additional thought....as a professional pilot for over thirty years, I have seen and dealt with a myriad of tense situations and am still around to tell about it. I don't claim to be some superhero but my training and experience is pretty much the norm for today's older airline captains. I think it would stack up pretty well to anybody's scrutiny.
My sentiments exactly.
Looky here. I get into a plane with a bunch of other people.
I am trusting the flight crew with my life in the first place.
If the guy can pass muster to fly a commercial plane, full of people, into the night, into bad weather, etc, etc....
somehow I THINK I can trust the guy with a weapon.
But the bureaucrats are unable to understand this.
Why is Norman Mineta still drawing a government paycheck?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.