Posted on 09/11/2001 2:28:34 PM PDT by NonZeroSum
I mentioned in a previous post that this was another failure of gun control. The theory is that we can achieve safety by outlawing weapons and enforcing it through security measures such as metal detectors, etc. The folly of this was demonstrated at Colombine, and now, with much more devastating results, today.
Our current approach to airline security is predicated on the assumption that the worst thing that can happen is that an airliner can be lost. If that's the case, and the goal is to prevent loss of aircraft, then it makes sense to try to minimize the probability of a weapon appearing on board, but to also grant the desires of the hijacker if there are no other alternatives. Also, given today's events, we should now understand that that was a foolish assumption.
In addition, as we've seen, keeping aircraft weapons free is obviously not possible. If there are sufficient resources available, ground personnel can be bribed or overpowered, security measures can be overcome, and those breaching security can do so in the knowledge that they will have total control over the plane.
With the new paradigm that there are indeed worse things than simply losing aircraft--that fueled aircraft are flying bombs, deliverable to wherever their commandeers wish to take them, we must have a new philosophy. The Israeli protocol is more appropriate, and in fact we might extend it.
I would suggest that we simply stop worrying about weapons aboard aircraft.
This would have three effects. First of all, it would save untold millions of dollars per year in salaries of idiot security people, and lost man-hours in productivity answering imbecilic questions and waiting in line at X-ray machines.
Second, if a hijacker doesn't know how many people on the plane are armed, or who they are, it throws enough uncertainty into his mind that it will probably deter him from hijacking the plane (when was the last time an El Al airliner was hijacked?)
Third, if despite this knowledge, or due to cluelessness, a hijacker attempts it anyway, there will be others on board who are both opposed to his aims, and will be able to outgun him. Yes, an aircraft may occasionally be lost due to an onboard gun battle, but it would be almost guaranteed that what happened today would not have happened. The plane would have gone down in some random location, as the one did outside of Pittsburgh, rather than hitting its intended target.
I fail to see any other alternative to preventing such events in future, other than shutting down the commercial airline industry.
Thoughts?
Can you count to 10,000?
It's called freaking personal responsibility. This reminds me of the CCW debate in Michigan. The antis screamed up and down about Dodge City, shootings in schools, etc.
The facts finally came out:
Police officers shoot somebody, they invariably get sued.
If you as a CCW holder shoot somebody, you'll probably get jail time.
If you as a CCW holder shoot somebody, you WILL get sued.
Bottom line - you'll be responsible, like you are on your job and with your home.
With a small arms round? ... I think the oxygen masks would fall.
If nothing else, supply the flight crew with machetes. Somebody comes into the cabin who'se not supposed to, chop his head off, and figure out what he wanted later
While I agree with you, these are the same arguments being made for loosening concealed carry laws in many states. And the leftist-liberal gun grabbers still fight tooth and nail against arming law-abiding citizens just to combat crime. They certainly won't roll over to let civilians carry guns onto airplanes.
These fanatic terrorists have now found a way to violate our airspace by using our own aircraft against us.
1. All pilots must be armed.
2. A two man undercover security team could be assigned to every commercial flight in COTUS. Experienced combat vets armed with Glaser type ammunition would prove effective in an aircraft hostage situation. These teams would be prepared to take out these fanatics with headshots should the need arise. Billions of dollars are wasted on free hand outs to numerous beggar on the block nations. This money could be put to better use of beefing up are own military and hiring such undercover security teams.
3. Once and for all Saddam Hussein should be dealt with and Iraq leveled to the ground. Likewise Afganistan should be leveled to the ground. Thereafter warnings would be issued to any other fanatic and commie nation that any terrorist activity carried out on U.S. soil will result in severe repercussions.
4. The U.S. should adopt the same strategy as Israel and deploy covert ops to infiltrate and take out known terrorist organization at all levels.
What happened today has nothing to do with the UN or NATO. What happened today has everything to do with being invaded by a foreign enemy.
Trading security for freedom is not an option. The only available option is one of aggression directed to our enemies. This is War.
It depends on lots of things. But it's already stipulated that we can't place the airliner on a pedestal as the highest value. If the airliner is being hijacked, there's a good chance it's lost anyway. If we can at least throw a wrench in the works of the terrorists' aims, then they will be deterred from repeating what happened today.
All planes should have a warning button that when pressed alerts the US military to track it and down it. Like a bank branch.
El Al has INTENSE security checks. They don't like you -- they open and search all of your bags -- AT CHECK IN. They still don't like you -- they put you in a room for an hour and work you over.
The people that fly on the plane are the same people that look for suspicious people at check in -- its in their interest to stay alive. The twits at our airports have no interest of saving lives beyond getting their paycheck -- they have no personal investment in it. THIS is the problem.
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