Posted on 10/15/2001 3:11:51 PM PDT by RichardEdward
Following the dreadful morning when four American commercial airliners were used to murder thousands of people in the span of a couple of hours, there has been much discussion of arming pilots. Many people are also saying that even properly trained citizens should be allowed to carry firearms on planes, as well.
To facilitate the discussions about whether or not to allow guns onto airplanes and who should or should not be allowed to carry them, we need to dispense with at least 12 Myths under which some people appear to be baffled. It's also a good idea to proceed in this conversation based on facts, reason and logic -- setting aside anything else, especially emotional or illogical dismissal of the facts.
We must also assume that anyone who cannot refute the facts reasonably must be unable to do so because the facts stand up under scrutiny -- and dismiss their emotional and illogical assertions as irrelevant.
MYTH #1 Cabin depressurization will occur if a firearm is discharged on an airplane
MYTH #2 A citizen or a pilot with a firearm on an airplane might shoot innocent people
MYTH #3 If you arm pilots with guns, problems could occur.
MYTH #4 A citizen using a gun on a plane might kill an innocent person
MYTH #5 Carrying a firearm on a plane is too much responsibility to give to a citizen
MYTH #6 Pilots and citizens are not competent enough to handle a firearm on a plane
MYTH #7 If you take a firearm onto an airplane, a hijacker could take your gun from you
MYTH #8 An armed pilot or armed citizens are no match for crazed, suicidal terrorists.
MYTH #9 No amount of training could justify giving a pilot or passengers the right to carry a firearm aboard an airplane.
MYTH #10 A pilot or citizens having guns on airplanes is not safe
MYTH #11 A lot of innocent people could get hurt or killed if we allow properly trained pilots and/or passengers to carry guns on airplanes.
MYTH #12 "We don't want the plane to depressurize at 30,000-feet because someone thinks they saw a hijacker." -- Representative Greg Walden
https://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=2475
what does everyone else think about civilians carrying on planes?
https://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=2475
All airlines need to do is post a list of acceptable weapons and ammunition when you purchase your ticket.
For someone carrying an 'unapproved weapon', the airline could rent them one for a nominal fee.
Problem solved, and no government intervention is required.
L
With the added bonus of allowing anyone who wanted too, to smoke since they would be alone anyway!
What kind of "wrong gun"? A howitzer? Commercial aircraft already leak air through the outflow valve (I think that's what it's called). A single bullet (or a dozen) from a handgun would NOT cause explosive decompression, which is the one that is a tad bad, but still survivable. You have paid attention during the safety lectures before departure, right? Decompression is not that big a deal. Smashing into a building at 500 mph is, however.
The pilot is in control of a 300,000 lb. missile traveling faster than a .45 cal. bullet at muzzle velocity. Would it not be wise to allow him the means to defend that missile.
If a properly trained pilot is not trustworthy enough to handle a gun get him out of the cockpit.
If we have any Ruby ridge personnel on these planes take their guns away from them, they are not trust worthy.
Such a hole would have an area of about 0.2 square inches. Now assuming the WORST case, that the cabin pressure is 14.7 psi, and the external pressure is zero (which only occurs in space), then you would have a sucking force of about 3 friggin pounds.
Take some superglue, make a 1/2 inch circle on your thumb, then stick it to a 3 lb. weight, then lift. Killing you? No. A bit sore maybe. Its no big deal.
That scene in Alien Resurrection, while certainly cool looking, was a crock of huey.
You might want to check some of YOUR myths.
"On the whole, citizens are more successful gun users than are the police. When police shoot, they are 5.5 times more likely to hit an innocent person than are civilian shooters." -- CATO Institute Policy Analysis No. 109, TRUST THE PEOPLE: THE CASE AGAINST GUN CONTROL, by David Kopel
Judging by how some idiots have grounded flights because they saw people praying or they saw an Arab with some confetti... I don't think weapons-free is the answer for airplanes, I think they should be treated like the inside of a prison. But pilots should have access to handguns (or larger firearms) if they so choose.
Funny in W.W.II The Japanese fighters shot 20mm’s into B-29 s and they did not blow up Just made the air inside leak out faster. And now there are handguns bigger than that now. I must have missed those.
It is possible for a handgun to cause explosive decompression. But it would need to hit a window. AND cause it to blowout. and this would not cause the plane to go down. Just everyone’s ears to pop. Aircraft have had this happen in flight. And have landed safely landed.
One of the tests they do when designing a craft is to shoot large harpoons about 5 ft across in to the pressurized fuselage to see that it don’t blow up.
Nor right, either.
If a firearm discharges accidental (not likely with a properly trained user) and if the bullet happens to go in the wrong direction, slow decompression might occur, as opposed to explosive decompression.
An unopposed hijacker, after Sept 11, will pretty much certainly cause the death of the hypothetical 250 people.
I'll add my two bits again to the Aircraft Engineers quoted in the article. Having maintained cabin pressurization systems while in the Navy and having performed at least 30 on-ground cabin pressurization tests, I can tell you that one dozen bullet holes in the skin of an airplane flying at 30K feet might make your ears pop, but that's all. The cabin pressurization system can easily handle keeping the cabin pressurized to a safe level.
Any hole smaller than a coffee cup will not significantly affect the pressurization systems on transport aircraft.
Knitebane
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.