APSA says Congress already authorized pilots to carry guns in cockpits in airline security legislation signed by President Bush last fall. But the provision leaves the decision up to Transportation Security Administration chief John Magaw.
Magaw held discussions about arming pilots with Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta earlier this week, but no decision had yet been made, reported the Post.
One Transportation official told the paper that a decision was likely by next week.
Figured I'd better get this in now before the Bush bashers get here from the other thread.
During the roundtable segment on the May 5 This Week with, for now, Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts, Donaldson raised how commercial airline pilots have signed a petition to allow them to carry guns in the cockpit.
The prospect horrified Roberts, who denounced the idea: "I don't feel safer. Airplanes is one of the few places I feel safe from guns. Having some pilot who's gone off his nut for some reason running around with a gun does not make me feel safe."
George Stephanopoulos, the future solo host of the program, pointed out: "That's always a danger. That person is always in control of the plane and could fly it into the ground if he wants to..."
George Will quipped: "It is the case, I think, that support for pilots being armed increases as people have more and more experience with so-called airport security."
Will soon asked Donaldson: "Do you or do you not wish the pilots on September 11th had been armed? Yes or no Sam."
Donaldson: "Well I wish that somebody-"
Will: "That's not a yes or a no."
Donaldson: "Well, when I asked Secretary Powell for a yes or a no question we heard two or three minutes and I and I'm happy to do it."
Will: "The prosecution rests."
Roberts interjected: "Suppose the hijackers had pulled the gun out of the pilot's hand if the pilot had a gun?"
Donaldson came to Roberts' side: "I don't know whether it would have made any difference. If it could have made a difference of course you would want it to happen. But I think, in the long run, guns in the cockpit are not a good idea. I join Cokie."
What if the hijacker would have pulled the gun out of the pilot's hand? C'mon Cokie! What would have happened? Tell us!
What if the pilot had killed the guy entering the cockpit? Cokie, you ignorant slut...
(*)I don't think a typical jetliner can survive such speeds, but my understanding is that in a powered dive many jetliners can break the sound barrier. The airframe will also be broken by such a stunt, but the pieces would for awhile anyway be travelling at about the speed of sound--faster than a .45ACP bullet.