Posted on 09/11/2001 8:16:26 PM PDT by RightOnline
In light of today's horrific events, wherein a group of highly-trained, highly-motivated terrorists apparently armed with knives and/or box cutters hijacked no fewer than four civilian airliners, I'd like to offer a proposal for your consideration.
Is it time, in light of the state of our world today, for a new category of "concealed carry" licensing? Let's call it, for lack of better phraseology for the time being, CCW-ATQ (ATQ = "Air Travel Qualified").
What I envision is a category of armed citizens who are a subset of those with "CCW" licenses. They would undergo much additional training, akin to the training given to the "Air Marshals" whom we've all read about. They would undergo background checks, etc., much like individuals seeking higher security clearances.
Once certified, a citizen possessing a CCW-ATQ license would be approved to carry a weapon aboard a civilian airliner. The aircraft crew would be notified whether or not they had any CCW-ATQ certified passengers, but would NOT be given names or seating assignments (terrorists would know if such was provided to aircrews, thereby making such passengers easy targets..........nullifying much of their effectiveness).
I don't offer this suggestion lightly or flippantly, but as a proposal for protection of air travellers in American airspace. I cannot help but think that if such was allowed today, the hijackings just might not have been so successful.
Sure! We could have the flight attendants rent them, along with the headphones! ;-)
Well, I wouldn't pretend to answer for Travis, but in my opinion, you'd be the type that I'm looking for to possess a CCW-ATQ permit. In a heartbeat.
Some here (not you) are advocating the creation of yet another "priviliged segment" of the firearms-owning population.
CCW permitting is just a way to turn part of what, according to God, is a RIGHT, into a PRIVILEGE. Air-travel CCW permits above and beyond just continue the process. Let everybody carry, with their firearms and ammunition being made subject to inspection prior to boarding.
(I just had a vision of a ticket agent asking if you wanted to sit in the armed section (front of the plane in order to protect the crew, bigger seats, etc) or the unarmed section. ROTFL.)
El Neil had such a scenario in one of his books, Henry Martyn, perhaps.
At boarding time, the protagonists were asked if they had loaded their weapons with ammunition that had been approved for air travel.
And El Neil, if you're lurking, Barnes and Noble has some of your books in stock. It's the first place I've seen them outside of used bookstores. I'd have bought both of them that day except for the fact that I'd already picked up Seven Myths of Gun Control. Ah, well, so many books, so little cash.
May the trend continue.
As for pilots not being armed..........Well, as a former pilot, I like the idea of the crew being that "last line of defense". Either of the two guys up front can fly the plane with proficiency, freeing up the other to serve as a final barrier that the scumbags would have to overcome. Give them that chance.
No, George, not even close. This isn't about "privilege" in the sense you mean it. This is about a realistic solution to a very, VERY real problem.
"CCW permitting is just a way to turn part of what, according to God, is a RIGHT, into a PRIVILEGE. Air-travel CCW permits above and beyond just continue the process. Let everybody carry, with their firearms and ammunition being made subject to inspection prior to boarding."
I didn't invent the concept of CCW laws. My proposal would be hard enough to push through via legislation. Your stance is just plain impossible in the year 2001. You know it, I know it, everyone here knows it. Sure, in the best of all possible worlds, such could happen. Not in our lifetimes, George.
Idealism is great, but idealism doesn't solve problems. Don't take that as a personal slight. We must deal with reality, and my proposal here would be hard enough (and I've been told MY stance here is impossible), so let's not sneer at it and crow for the obviously impossible.
The pilots can have a high capacity pistol with extra mags but under no circumstances are they allowed to open the door.
Passengers can acquire a Air Travel CCW but the requirements would be so stringent that only a top 25 per cent IDPA or IPSC shooter could achieve one.
Qualifying would be free, but no training would be provided.
Present and former Navy Seals and Delta force members would be given their CCW and ten years after service would have to requalify.
The type of ammunition would be strictly regulated.
After licensing, a CCW holder would get a discount on air fare and liability insurance would be provided.
Better supply those pilots with Depends, because there ain't no room for a porta-potty in some of the smaller aircraft cockpits!
Why not..........and why not? I'm curious about your reasons, and also wondering if you've read all the responses above (admittedly, there are a LOT, but it's worth it.).
Had a citizen with a concealed carry license and a loaded handgun been on those hijacked aircraft earlier this week, then this entire catastrophe could have been avoided.
The hijackers would be dead and our nation would not be in turmoil.
When are we going to learn that guns are not "bad" and that an armed society is a polite society.
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