Posted on 07/25/2002 8:21:27 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Senator Fritz Hollings, D-SC, has reportedly snubbed a bid by the widow of the pilot whose jetliner was hijacked and crashed into Tower 2 of the World Trade Center because he disagrees with her support for arming pilots in the cockpit.
Ellen Saracini, whose husband piloted United Airlines Flight 175 on Sept. 11, told Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly late Wednesday that she wrote to Hollings requesting to testify before the Science and Transportation Committee, which he chairs.
Saracini's request was seconded by one of Sen. Hollings' colleagues.
"I have a letter right here that was addressed to the senator," Saracini told O'Reilly. "Sen. Bob Smith (also) wrote a letter, asking that I be able to testify and it was denied."
The 9-11 pilot's widow said she was given no explanation as to why Hollings' committee turned down her request, but she told Fox News, "Well, we know that Senator Hollings is against arming pilots. That's very clear and I think he thinks that I have too compelling a voice."
Saracini said she wanted to tell the Science and Transportation Committee that "we need to have the armed pilots in the cockpit. The cockpit is now the last line of defense.
"Everyone would be a lot safer," she contended. "And the worst-case scenario is, what do we want to wait for; a military jet to fly alongside us and have to shoot us down in case there's a problem?"
As would most of the anti-gun crowd. Don't want to hear any of those stories where guns could have saved lives.
Pilots are going to be armed. They'll be armed with a .45 or a F-16. With the .45, there's a chance to take out the hijackers, prevent them from taking control of the aircraft and save the passengers or you can take out the entire plane, hijackers, crew and passengers. That's the alternative. Sen Hollings, Norm Mineta and the Bush Administration are all insane. Apparently the Bushies may be coming around after they find themselves to the left of Barbara Boxer on this issue.
We should have Sen Hollings insist on disarming the Capitol Police and his own armed guards. Obviously guns are too dangerous and can't be used.
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