Posted on 09/05/2002 4:06:17 PM PDT by SBeck
Bush to OK Guns for Airline Pilots
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 6:37 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to allow commercial pilots to carry weapons in the cockpit after the Bush administration dropped its opposition to the idea.
The administration, though, said a number of safety and logistical issues needed to be resolved.
In a letter to two senators, the White House recommended giving pilots lockboxes for the weapons so they won't be left in the cockpit. It also said only pilots who volunteer to carry weapons and receive extensive training should be armed.
Al Aitken, a pilot speaking for the 14,500-member union representing American Airlines pilots, which supports arming pilots, said the 87-6 vote meant the Senate recognized that all the security layers the administration is putting into place are still inadequate.
``The people who need the weapons as a last line of defense are the pilots,'' he said. ``They're the only ones they're trying to keep the gun from,'' he said, adding that thousands of state and federal law enforcement officers travel on planes while armed.
The heads of 21 airlines, which oppose the measure, sent a letter to each senator Thursday saying they wanted to discuss the idea of arming pilots with Congress and the administration.
``It must be noted, however, that while we are spending literally billions of dollars to keep dangerous weapons off of aircraft, the idea of intentionally introducing thousands of deadly weapons in to the system appears to be dangerously counterproductive,'' the letter said.
To address some of the airlines' concerns, the administration suggested a ``detailed, effective'' training program be designed from scratch and tested before an estimated 85,000 pilots are allowed to carry weapons.
The administration also warned the cost would be significant -- $900 million to start and $250 million annually thereafter -- and said there is no money now in the Transportation Security Administration budget to cover the expenses.
The letter from Transportation Security Administration chief James Loy was delivered to Sens. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., and John McCain, R-Ariz., as the Senate debated the measure that would allow all pilots to carry guns into the cockpit. Hollings is chairman of the Senate Commerce and Transportation Committee; McCain is the committee's ranking Republican.
``If there is to be responsible legislation establishing a program to allow guns in the cockpit, it must address the numerous safety, security, cost and operational issues,'' Loy wrote.
Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., offered the amendment to the homeland security bill that would prohibit airlines and the federal government from barring armed pilots.
``We prefer a more comprehensive approach in our amendment, but are grateful for any efforts by the administration to roll the ball down the field,'' said Smith's spokeswoman, Lisa Harrison.
The chairman of the House Transportation Committee's aviation subcommittee, Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said pilots should be armed at least until bulletproof cockpit doors are installed in all planes.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that manufacturers and airlines agree an April 9 deadline to install the new doors can be met.
Mica said the administration realized that the momentum in Congress favoring arming pilots is strong. A bill to create a program that would train and arm some pilots passed the House 310-113 in July.
Transportation Undersecretary John Magaw, who headed the TSA until July, said in May he would not allow pilots to carry guns. Reinforced cockpits and armed air marshals provide enough protection against terrorists who try to take over an airplane, Magaw said.
After Magaw's departure, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said he would re-examine the issue.
If we didn't have all the unconstitutional restrictions on carrying in public places, pilots could merely carry their weapon in their chart case, just like they probably did before the anal retentive gun grabbers got into the act. As for "extensive" training, I fail to see why any more training should be required for airline pilots than for concealed carry permit applicants in most states. Say 8-10 hour of combined classroom and range training and qualificatioin. They aren't going to be making any long distance pistol shots inside the cockpit, so making use of the original point and click (hopefully point and bang) interface shouldn't require much training. These are pilots after all, who have to meet moderately stringent physicial requirements just to begin their training, or maintain their rating. I don't think shooting some Jihadi at 3 or 4 feet should be a big technical or physical challenge. The "when to shoot" part would of course be covered in the classroom portion.
What makes this insistence on "extensive training" so ridiculous is the fact of the 15 minutes of weapons and bomb identification training handed out to the screeners when they were federalized.
The pilots are responsible for the safety of the aircraft, crew, and passengers. Allow them the tools to do the job. That would include a reasonable amount of training, but nothing more than the equivalent of 1 working day.
Yes. He and Fatso, Tom Ridge should be fired. Dumb and Dumber! They make Abbot and Costello look like rocket scientists running the Keystone Cops.
Uh, ever heard of a "holster," George?
--Insert Al Gore joke here--
Well, we're half way there.
Reminds me of permitting people to own guns for home defense, but only if they are locked in an approved safe.
What is this obsession in Washgington with Lock Boxes?
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