No Guns In The Cockpits

King Features Syndicate ^ | 3/18/02 | Charley Reese

[chainsaw]

Now, if we can just get the new world order crowd to capitulate.

[coloradan]

Too dangerous to give guns to pilots, because a passenger might get accidentally killed? The alternative approach is to scramble F-15s to would shoot down an errant liner, killing everybody aboard.

[marktwain]

A well written and well reasoned article.

[meenie]

The biggest problem is getting the powers that be to admit that self-defense is a legitimate right. Control is the name of the game. Air marshals can control the passengers, pilots cannot. F-16's can control the situation that air marshals cannot. The government has the position of trying to contain terrorism and at the same time not trusting the public to do the right thing.

During WW II we had a good security system because we had the government and the public on the same side. We don't have a good security system now because of the government insistence that they must control everything.

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to and descriptions of the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[Destructor]

"Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see that a pilot shooting a terrorist in a cockpit is any more dangerous than air marshals having a gunfight out amongst the passengers. And certainly a gun in the cockpit is less dangerous than being blown out of the sky by an F-16."

Bingo! You nailed it. We are being sold a bill of good (again) by our own government! Armed pilots would be another layer of security, and would help deter acts of Terrorism. The government is just trying to cater to the all of the stupid Liberal wussies that mess their pants anytime someone mentions guns!! When will our Society stop listening to these idiots!?!

[Destructor]

"Now, if we can just get the new world order crowd to capitulate."

Not to mention all of the Status Quo junkies!

[FreedomPoster]

I thought some airlines were arming pilots:

ASA Arming Pilots

In a monumental decision following the attacks of September 11th, regional carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines has elected to arm its pilots. After much research, the Delta Connection carrier has decided on a hand-held stun gun (see attached photo). Weapon delivers a distracting sting from up to four feet. Pilots will be trained on its use and safe handling.

Photo Attachment

[B4Ranch]

So true!

[Blood of Tyrants]

The reason the goobermint doesn't trust pilots with guns is PILOTS AREN'T GOOBERMINT EMPLOYEES. Everyone knows that the FBI doesn't shoot innocent people in the face--wait, bad analogy.

[FairWitness]

Probably the most rational argument against letting pilots carry guns is that it would convince terrorists that the only way to do harm with an airplane in the future is to blow it up with a bomb. I say give the pilots guns, cut out most of the current foolishness (like screening elderly women and congressmen with artificial hips) and do a crash project on effective screening for bombs in luggage.

[Kermit]

Charley Reese exposes liberal (+Bush administration) idiocy in one shot.

"Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see that a pilot shooting a terrorist in a cockpit is any more dangerous than air marshals having a gunfight out amongst the passengers. And certainly a gun in the cockpit is less dangerous than being blown out of the sky by an F-16. "

[supercat]

A pilot's job is to control his aircraft. A firearm may in some circumstances be a necessary but useful tool for that purpose.

Note that the pilot's job is not to use a firearm to intervene in anything that's happening in the cabin. His job is to keep control of the cockpit--if need be by shooting anyone who tries to break in. If he lands a plane full of corpses slain by a knife-wielding maniac, that's still better than letting the maniac take over the controls.

[VRWC_Member428]

...the job of the fighter jets is to shoot down the passenger plane if it veers from its flight plan.

Unfortunately, this has to happen. Because only AFTER something like this happens will there be a huge outcry to arm the Pilots. I wonder how long the fighters will give the passengers to attempt to re-take the plane before they shoot it down...

[gonzo]

I am too f*cking tired to argue about it anymore! The Pilots want Handguns to protect themselves, their ships, their passengers, and crew! WHAT-THE-F*CK is OUR Federal Government doing, meddling in Private Business?? And why does anyone assume that the Federales should now be in charge of OUR security, when their own Agencies couldn't keep these F*cking-Murderous-Terrorists out of OUR Country in the first place!!

When Americans say: "I'M NOT GONNA FLY ON THAT PLANE, UNLESS I KNOW THAT THE PILOT CAN KEEP ME SAFE", we'll have air-travel again.

More likely is the Pilots simply refusing to fly anymore, after the next aircraft is destroyed by a terrorist.

Arm the Pilots --- It's a no-brainer to everybody in the whole Country, except Washingtoon! I'm sick of their shit! You guys fight this one - I voted for GWB, and he shoulda done better! Maybe we'll get an American again, someday........FRegards

[tberry]

"I asked one of my elitist friends, "Do you really think your fellow citizens are stupid and mad?" The answer was "Yes." Nothing is so conducive to making a fool of oneself than a small brain and a big ego.

And this is what your current "elected" Republican government thinks of you too.

[Beenliedto]

More likely is the Pilots simply refusing to fly anymore, after the next aircraft is destroyed by a terrorist.

Whatever happened to the ALPA on this one? Back in September and October, I thought they were about to go out on strike over the "carry" thing, and it suddenly went away (like a lot of stuff does).

[gonzo]

"... Whatever happened to the ALPA on this one? Back in September and October, I thought they were about to go out on strike over the "carry" thing, and it suddenly went away (like a lot of stuff does). .."

It'll take one or two more 'terrorist' incidents of crashing-airplanes before the Airline-Pilots wake up!

In the meantime, the NTSB will tell you that it's "Pilot-Error"!

Goodbye, Delta, and Goodbye, American, and a sad Goodbye to United Air Lines, and a warm-Hello to the First Airline Company that arms its Pilots!!

How F*CKING STUPID do you have to be, to ignore the obvious??

Ask President George W. Bush!

No body is more pissed-off than me about this, but WE ALL SHOULD BE!!

I guess it's time to buy a small aircraft again, and piss-on the FAA.......FRegards

[Howie]

Just got this in a newsletter, some of you may have read it , many probably have not:

[FLIGHT ATTENDANTS STEP INTO THE FRAY: Why stop with the pilots? Why not give the flight attendants guns as well? That's what the 50,000-member union, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), is advocating.

The union recently took a stand against arming pilots, unless the cockpit crew was required to leave its fortified sanctuary and defend the main cabin. Not surprisingly, the Air Line Pilots Association says pilots, and their weapons, should stay in the cockpit. At AVweb, we're wondering when the pax are going to get together and demand their right to bear arms.

NOTE: AVweb's NewsWire at http://avweb.com/n/?19b includes more details, plus a link to the complete text of the AFA press release about guns on airplanes.]