And yes, by the way, I do carry a gun into other people's homes, and in their vehicles. If they don't want me to, I don't go into them.
Why do the police carry guns, if they're virtually helpless in a hostage situation? Surely they would be better off just putting their guns down and ... what?
If members of the crews on those planes had been trained in using firearms IN planes, among people, and had weapons available to them, I believe (not know, but believe) that thousands of people would now be alive who no longer are.
While I'm hollering, here, let me agree with you about one thing. IF the airlines decided that people could no longer be armed on airplanes, I would just decide to go or not go, and everyone else could do the same. That would be their right, and mine. And, of course, the airlines would be responsible, still, for the safety of those passengers. However, the airlines did not make that regulation voluntarily. THAT is what I object to.
Needless to say, deciding whether to go on the plane or not is no guarantee of safety when the same plane gets hijacked and pointed to the building where *you* work. Having a pistol in your belt will not stop an airline careening down on your desk. I agree with Texaggie79, that armed sky marshals will be needed in the future.