Ridge says arming pilots "doesn't make a lot of sense"

USA Today newspaper ^ | March 4, 2002 | Judy Keen

[lavaroise]

Another political moron who encroaches on the jurisdiction of others for politicaly correct reasons or dubious technical reasons that they personaly defined. Tom Ridge does not fly those airplanes, hence Ridge's vigilante viewpoint on this does not apply.

[wita]

I now believe that we are just beginning to see the tip of the political party iceberg, and the chill is vital organ deep. I have contended for some time that the two major parties are too alike, they are both in a box, put there by those seeking government "services", and the lust for power in order to provide the "services". It was with some regret that I left the republican party, and joined the Constitution Party. With the passage of time, I now have no regrets, and a good deal of healthy fear of what political greed, and outright stupidity, can accomplish.

If anyone can find a shred of Constitutional thinking in mr ridges ramblings, I want to know about it.

[B Knotts]

"Where do you stop?" Ridge replied. If pilots carry guns, he said, railroad engineers and bus drivers could ask to do the same.

I've long suspected that Ridge was a dunce.

Now, as the saying goes, he has opened his mouth and removed all doubt.

[lavaroise]

those bureaucrats think that their offices are a blank check for procedural social engineering of their own, even if it violates the jurisdiction, authority and rights of self defense of people and pilots. Their offices are only meant for additional jurisdiction in safety, not overlapping jurisdiction or encroachment of jurisdiction in the maintenance of safety. Ridge and others are high level idiots who mistake jurisdiction authority and controls of safety systems. Control of their safety systems should not mean interfering with other safety loops. Unless they are unwitting traitors undermining National security.

[wita]

Now to mr magaw, who if memory serves was the batf boss. Any idea what his decision might be based on his bacground? Rhetorical question.

[Destructor]

There's a very thin line between Bureaucrats, and Traitors!

[hopespringseternal]

Like most bureaucrats, Tom Ridge (Director of Homeland Security) is a lot more worried about the herd getting uppity than a few wolves thinning it out.

Judy Keen wrote in USA Today: "'Where do you stop?' Ridge replied. If pilots carry guns, he said, railroad engineers and bus drivers could ask to do the same."

Oh, the horror. This business of people arming themselves could spread.

While the idea of giving guns to pilots horrifies Ridge, he is ok with shooting down a planeload of passengers. That position demonstrates exactly what is important to these people. Arming pilots who don't happen to be government employees is unthinkable. Killing several hundred people is acceptable.

Arming someone other than a government employee is an admission of the impotence of government. Shooting down a planeload of people shows not only your power but your ruthlessness.

It is all about power.

And what about railroad engineers and bus drivers? First, a train makes a better weapon than a plane, and there is a lot less worry about where stray bullets end up. If you don't want to arm engineers, then your goal is quite simply something other than "homeland security." And bus drivers have some responsibility to the safety of their passengers. It would be better if the terrorist wasn't the only guy on the bus armed.

But again, it has nothing to do with the security and safety of citizens. It has to do with the security and safety of the power of government officials.

Let people take the responsibility for defending themselves and government has to shrink. It isn't like government ever had that responsibility anyway. It has only maintained the appearance of it at horrible expense.

Working for the government in positions of authority is joining a club. Once you are in that club, you feel superior to your charges. You feel they need you. And you feel that the wellbeing of the people you are to protect is bound up in the power and well being of the club.

So all you really have to do is worry about the club and everything will be ok, or so the federal enforcers believe.

The number one threat to the club is not terrorists or criminals.

It is citizens realizing that they don't need the club.

[wita]

tom ridge, john magaw, President Bush, et al should be reading this, but I suppose to them, your comments are the misguided ramblings of a right wing nut. To me they are the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Thanks.

[goldstategop]

Tom Ridge is a RINO. Hrrumph I hadn't expected any different. His comments are the height of idiocy of what passes for Washington wisdom.

[Thermalseeker]

Ridge says arming pilots "doesn't make a lot of sense"

Ridge, in his speech accepting the appointment to the 'leadership' role of the Office of Homeland Security said "Freedom and Liberty are the two greatest things we as a government offer our citizens". Kinda says it all, doesn't it? I don't trust this guy and this statement is the reason why.

[AppyPappy]

We can't trust pilots with a gun but we can trust them with a plane that can bring down a building.

Brilliant.

[goldstategop]

Exactly. Freedom and Liberty aren't a gift offered to us by a magnanimous government. They are OUR inherent birthright granted to us by Our Creator. Like a RINO like Ridge would know better. Where the hell would he know where freedom and liberty really come from? The man's a living illustration of the Peter Principle at work.

[goldstategop]

Translation: we'd rather have terrorists fly a plane into a tall building before we'd arm pilots to prevent it. How Ridge ever got appointed Director Of Homeland Security is beyond me. He knows next to nothing about the most basic security measures needed to keep Americans safe from terrorism.

[OldFriend]

Personally, I would appreciate sky marshalls on EVERY flight out of major airports. Be nice too if INS did their job, strictly and by the book........NO EXCEPTIONS

[Republic]

ALL PILOTS ON COMMERCIAL AIRLINERS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS!!!

[wita]

...with a plane that can bring down a building.

Tom must have a very short memory. I can't say much for his logical thought process either.

[ZULU]

Ridge is an anti-gun liberal Republican, despite his tough image and military background.

This bum couldn't even deliver Pennsylvania for Bush, a pro-gun hunting state if there ever was one. One more example of Bush's flawed charcter judgement. He's in the same category as that other loser Colon (Colin) Powell.

[goldstategop]

And in the same category as that other liberal anti-gun nut Republican, Dick Riordan.