Dear Airlines: An Oped Letter to All Air Carriers

The Sierra Times - Email ^ | 17 September, 2001 | J. J. Johnson

[max61]

Who's to say that one of the CCW carriers or crew isn't a terrorist? What are we going to have? A shoot-out in the cabin? It is better to think of solutions that are plausible.

Your cowardice is pathetic.

---max

[Kermit]

The Brazil legislature just passed a law allowing passengers to carry the guns on airliners. Our guys are stupider than the Brazilians.

[Untouchable]

I'm not a coward, I'm just bright enough to think of all the possibilities. If one of the crew IS a terrorist, I don't think it would be a good move to arm them. By the way, I own several weapons and am a member of the NRA. I'm more afraid of people like you missing your mark with your weapon in the air than I am afraid of terrorists.

[max61]

Yep, you're bright alright. You should run for congress.

---max

[Alberta's Child]

I did get a clue. And when the airlines are flying planes across the country that are 90% empty, I can assure you that the first airline to fly their passengers around in military transports with one armed soldier on board for every three passengers will be the only one getting any business.

[AKbear]

I do, using a Glock 35 with a 3.5# trigger. While all the guys shooting the 1911 clones are proficient with failure drills, the Glock just keeps on shooting. :^)

[brityank]

You should run for congress.

Not even; we already have too many unconstitutional moronic liars there now, thank-you-very-much.

The safest I ever felt was in Tulsa back in '73; guys all around downtown wearing hardware both concealed and open, and I never saw or heard of anyone getting shot that didn't deserve it -- and that included the 'bars'. (For those that don't know, Tulsa was 'dry', no booze by the drink except at bottle clubs you had to be a member of; then you brought in your own bottle and they charged you for the glass and ice. Strange setup!)

[brityank]

Check here or here.

[no-s]

Well, it is possible you may not be brave enough to trust your fellow man. This may make you a coward, because it is demonstrable that trustworthy souls exist. If there is an untrustworthy SOB with a gun or boxcutter on the plane, you will be SOL because you are UNARMED, DEFENSELESS - a guaranteed victim.

[Rockitz]

Bump. You'll love this!

[CHICAGOFARMER]

FIVE THOUSAND LOST THEIR LIVES FOR THE WANT OF ......

News/Current Events News Keywords: CCW, AIRLINES, BUSH, ASHCROFT, TERRORISTS, TERRORISM, TERRORIST, BIN LADEN Source: Keepandbeararms

Published: September 17.2001 Author: PAUL WILLIAMS Posted on 09/17/2001 19:05:55 PDT by CHICAGOFARMER FIVE THOUSAND LOST THEIR LIVES FOR THE WANT OF TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DOLLARS.

New Release

Ponder for a moment.

We trust a pilot with a 30 million-dollar plane knowledgeable of complex airplane functions, but government policy will not allow them to operate anti terrorist tools.

Israel Airlines bolts the Cockpit door and all Pilots and copilots carry Firearms.

Scanning the websites this week the following thread from Pilots, Law Enforcement, and American Citizens discuss ways to take positive action against airplane terrorism.

We trust a fancy security question (Thanks to Jim Kallstom, former FBI, did you pack your bags?) but not trust millions of active and retired law enforcement officers to Citizen Carry on an airplane. They should be outraged.

I’LL FLY AGAIN WHEN PILOTS ARE ARMED.

May I rant for a second! Get these liberal, antigun activists out of our government decision making process. Consider, Israel Airlines policy bolt the door, arms it pilots, and has armed travelers in the cabin.

We allow lowly-paid gate-guards to gate dis-arm us, creating a "killing zone of disarmed citizens", as passingers "do battle" in the sky with terrorists, using passion for weapons because misguided government policy has left us defenseless.

The government can not protect you when the terrorist is eyeball to eyeball with you. Now they have ban my pocketknife used to clean my nails. What next, my shoelaces becasue terrorists can make a rope weapon??

Most all of the former military pilots strapped firearms to their legs when they served their county. Today they are considered not capable, wear the wrong uniform, or untrust worthy.

This BS about putting a 9mm hole in the skin of an airplane will bring it down is more rhetoric and fiction than fact. Just ask the thousand of airmen who returned from flights over Germany in WWII. How about the 747 over Hawaii with a 20-foot hole in the side. Still got a problem with possible decompression? Consider the alternative!

I’ll trust anyday my life to any active or retired law enforcement officer to CITIZEN CARRY on any airline.

I’ll trust anyday my life to any pilot or copilot active or retired to carry on any airline.

I’ll trust any American citizen willing to CITIZEN CARRY after extensive training to carry on any airline. It is a huge responsibility, however, the current "Killing Zones" set up by faulty thinking is killing our husbands, wives, children, and our nation.

I am sure thousands perhaps millions of American’s would trust their life to armed pilots, copilots, air crew members, retired, policemen, FBI, CIA, ATF, or American Citizens willing to train, quality, and stay current with cabin safety issues keeping America airlines safe.

I personally trust all of the above personnel, rather than phony security questions, low-pay air guards, unlocked backdoor food and cleaning functions or gates at airports, or government officials with big titles.

WHO DO YOU TRUST THE GOVERNMENT? OR DO YOU TRUST HONEST AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO LIVE AND BREATH FAMILY SAFETY WHEN TRAVELING?

What do you want in your cockpit, a pilot and copilot with a firearm, or a terrorist?

2,180 dollars (four colt pistols or glock)would have prevented all four terrorist acts and five thousand dead would be having dinner with their families this evening.

Government will spend billions of dollars with highly visible, and very breach-able security that irritates American citizens during check-in when one additional layer can greatly enhanse passenger security. Pilots want want to die without fighting, but not me.

Thousands of American veterans, retired Law Enforcement Officers and American Citzens want to sign up today to fight terrorism. Don't tell them they are unqualified.

If you do tell them they are unqualifed, they may have a word or two for you. Something about pounding sand where the sun does not shine.

Visit keepandbeararms to carry the fight.

KEEPANDBEARARMS

WWW.KEEPANDBEARARMS.COM

Paul Williams

Advising Director

end

------ Let us hear from the active and retired Law enforcement, pilots, and concerned American citizens.

[Untouchable]

Well, it is possible you may not be brave enough to trust your fellow man. This may make you a coward, because it is demonstrable that trustworthy souls exist. If there is an untrustworthy SOB with a gun or boxcutter on the plane, you will be SOL because you are UNARMED, DEFENSELESS - a guaranteed victim.

May I remind you that the bastards that highjacked that plane were "fellow men" and were indistinguishable from the rest of us good citizens. No, I don't trust the Airlines to screen their crew in assurance that they are not the enemy. No, I do not know that another passenger on the craft that has a CCW is not the enemy. No, I do not assume that those who do carry CCW are excellent marksmen. If you are willing to trust all those variables, then you are not a coward, you are a simpleton.

[supercat]

If one of the crew IS a terrorist, I don't think it would be a good move to arm them.

If one of the crew is a terrorist, he's already armed with a hundred-ton MISSLE! If there's a shootout and the plane goes down, that's FAR from the worst that could happen.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Good post! Time for a bookmark!

[glock rocks]

You compete with a glock?

yup. glock owners are much less proficient at clearing jams than many
owners of other firearms. we just don’t quite get enough practice
clearing those stovepipes and misfeeds.

and when the five meter double taps are less than 2” apart,
we’re waiting too long between shots.

glock shooters realize that the reduced recoil moment and
lower center of balance gives them an unfair advantage, but
we keep it among ourselves. shhhhh.

shoot straight. shoot safe.

[boris]

Glocks are nice. I'll never own one, however, because the ergonomics are not right for me.

I've shot 'em. I just can't stand how they feel in my hand. too blocky...like holding a gun made out of Lego blocks.

One shooter's opinion.

--Boris

[no-s]

Don't you think the fact there may be other armed people on the plane is as deterring to idiots as well as terrorists? Do you prefer to disarm the competent in order to keep the idiots from causing trouble, when disarming the competent leaves no deterrent to the terrorist?

I'm not saying we have to arm idiots. I'm saying it's unwise and perhaps even cowardly to assume everyone is an idiot. You put your faith in your fellow man every time you drive down a two-lane street, or cross at a crosswalk. If you are afraid to go out of doors because of the risk, don't try to tell those of us who must go out what to do.

[glock rocks]

like holding a gun made out of Lego blocks

i haven’t heard of glocks referred to as legos before... ah, that got me laughing.
thanks. hey - shoot what works for you, no problem here.

oh, and practice practice practice.

[Untouchable]

I have not spoken of disarming anyone. One has to be armed before they can be disarmed. And, if you really think the Airlines are going to let any clown with a permit take a weapon aboard an airplaine, you must be high on somethin'. This is why I stated before, it is better to think of plausible solutions. What is all this hooey about trusting your fellow man? All the passengers on all 4 aircraft TRUSTED their fellow passengers not to slash their throats and crash the plane. Now, you say I should trust complete strangers on an Aircraft to carry arms in my defense. But, you say, we can screen out the "idiots". How is that possible when you are still here? Not bloody likely. Trust and verify.

[no-s]

Trust and Verify, you say? Your form of 'verify' is fine for the armchair, but leaves everyone at the pointy end SOL.

BTW don't make things up and pretend I said them. Don't be abusive, it's offensive. And irrelevant.