[Torie]

I just think cooler heads should determine whether the gun thing is efficacious and necessary. I tend to doubt it, assuming the cockpits are secured with bullet proof and secure doors, as is now at last happening asap.

[backlash]

You sound as if your reliance on big brother has precluded your ability to assess a situation for yourself. How high should the bodies be piled before the efficacy of armed pilots becomes apparent?

[Jay W]

assuming the cockpits are secured with bullet proof and secure doors, as is now at last happening asap.

A tip out of the pages of home security:

NEVER ASSUME that a door is secured or will remain secured.

Always have a backup system or plan. The bad guy does -- he's got a backup plan. You'd be foolish to not have one. By the way, this not only includes the airlines, but also that safe suburban neighborhood you say you are fortunate to live in. Guess what? The crime wave's headed in that direction, outward from central city urban areas. Good luck. You'll need that, and much more.

[Swordmaker]

Re: "...cooler heads..."

Iam absolutely certain that the captains and co-pilots of four hijacked air liners would have been willing to submit their immediate desire for a firearm, any firearm, to a committee of "cooler heads" somewhere in a no-longer smoke filled room in Washington for decision.

Perhaps the committee would decide the pilots could match the box-cutter wielding hijackers, weapon for weapon, but no guns, in the interests of fairness?

[tomkat]

your arguments are based on fear and/or impotence.

why would you possibly choose to flaunt that fact ?

[steve-b]

I just think cooler heads should determine whether the gun thing is efficacious and necessary.

That determination should be made by the people who have a clue about the situation -- the pilots.

[prambo]

Pray tell, what "...cooler heads..."?

Sarah Brady, John Ashcroft, The Violence Policy Center, peace protesters?

How about??? - ME!!!!!

I haven't shot a thing since this happened, I MUST have a cool head.

I decide that ALL citizens can carry handguns on ALL flights.

There, it's decided - go away.

prambo

[Virginia-American]

Perhaps this isn't fair, but it's almost like you're looking for an excuse not to arm the pilots, crew, and passengers. I generally hate class-action lawyers, but I'd like to see a suit against the airlies on second amendment grounds. Federal law (IIRC) does not prohibit armed passengers or crew. Airline regs did. The crew and passengers were prevented from forming a militia when it mattered, and as a result are dead.

[ELS]

I just think cooler heads should determine whether the gun thing is efficacious and necessary.

I believe the pilots are thinking with cool heads. Their primary concern is airplane safety. They are not irresponsible hotheads. I accept, and fully support, their judgement that pilots should be armed.

[Twodees]

Yeah, cooler heads (in Congress, who can take armed guards with them on domestic flights or hitch a ride with a corporate sponsor on his private Gulfstream) can decide whether or not the hoi polloi can be protected. After all, the pilots can just call 911 like you do from home, right?

Unarmed "citizens" who don't value a right because you choose not to exercise that right personally shouldn't express disapproval of the rest of us. I don't see those of us who support the right of pilots to carry their own arms to be hotheads as that response of yours implies.