Pilots Soak Up Firearms Training

Atlanta Journal Constitution (via Firearmnews.com) ^ | Mary Lou Pickel

[heckler]

BRUNSWICK -- If there's one thing an armed pilot cannot do, it is allow a terrorist to take the gun away.

That's why 12 pairs of sweaty airline pilots punched, grabbed and pulled at each other at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center here Wednesday. They were learning how to ward off an attacker trying to get their pistols.

The pilots are part of the latest group of 44 training for federal approval to carry guns in the cockpit to deter terrorist attacks -- and defend their planes and passengers if one occurs.

[anniegetyourgun]

Works for me!

[RKV]

Underperformin Norman Minetta has done his best to kill this program including moving the training site several thousand miles after it was already set up. Keep the pressure on if you want a pilot who can resist a terrorist flying your airplane.

[NittanyLion]

One pilot from New York, a friend of one of the pilots who crashed into the World Trade Center, said he has learned ways to keep the cockpit door closed and how to protect his weapon.

"They've used pilots to put together this program and not just lawyers," he said.

The lawyers are too busy devising ways to make sure that dreaded weapon "the fingernail clipper" and its assault weapon variant "the toenail clipper" don't make it on board.

[Mulder]

This is all a bunch of nonsense.

If the gov't would only recognize our Rights, pilots and passengers alike would already be flying armed. And 9/11 would not have occurred.

[RKV]

BINGO!

[ExSoldier]

I have a buddy who's a chief pilot currently in this program....he asked me to work with him on the shooting prep and I did so, for more than three months of straight practice before he reported for training. By all accounts it was worth the effort and it helped. I also showed him some basic aikido counters to grabs that work well.

[Darksheare]

Yeah, I know.
Like I'm going to be terrified of somewone weilding a fingernail clipper.
(Just jab the sucker in the eye with your thumb and have that woman with the aggressive disorder come back five seats and beat the tar out of him!)

[ought-six]

I don't want to sound ignorant, but what does BTTT mean?

[big_Rob]

Isn't airline safety the reason the glaser safety bullet was developed? Those 8 shot filled gelatinous bullets that don't penetrate much, so the aircraft hull has a lower chance of rupturing if the pilot misses the perp. They look cool, but I've never shot them. Armed pilots are definately the way to go.

[xp38]

Bump to the top....it puts the thread back at the top of the latest posts page....keeps it in view for freepers refreshing the latest posts page or just opening FR up on their browser.

[NittanyLion]

Like I'm going to be terrified of somewone weilding a fingernail clipper.

Maybe they'll give you an ingrown nail...

[Imagine]

Amen....

Now you know why the democrats (the party of burocracies) don't want the pilots to carry.

[Darksheare]

*Falls to the floor of the plane in agony*
Get him boys! He's felled me with an ingrown nail!
*Badguy brandishes a huge ingrown toenail*
Look out! He's got an ingrown toenail!

Umm.. better not continue that one..

[heckler]

I havent heard what type of ammo they are using in this program. The only reason to use a safety bullet would be to prevent shooting through a perp and hitting an innocent. Commercial airliners can withstand hundreds of rounds without significant depressurization.

[TC Rider]

A neighbor who is a pilot has told me that a lot of pilots who would be willing to take the training and the gun in the cockpit are passing on the opportunity.

They fear the 'psychological' evaluation required for entering the program. A bad evaluation not only blocks a pilot from the gun program, but, goes into their permenant record and could bar them from flying. Many are afraid to put their careers in the hands of the mostly leftist psychs.

[heckler]

We need to keep the pressure on congress to continue to fine-tune this mess.