Posted on 10/04/2001 9:38:13 PM PDT by kattracks
Commercial airline pilots will be asked to suspend air service if they cannot have trained, armed pilots in the cockpits, a New Hampshire pilot said. A resolution that will be circulated among the various councils of the 67,000-member Air Line Pilots Association this month asks federal regulations be changed to allow for the voluntary arming of flight crew members, Robert Giuda, a United Airlines captain of Warren said. Had we had armed pilots on Sept. 11, we wouldnt have the horrific tragedy that were dealing with at this point, Giuda said of the four hijacked jetliners. Pilots would first get training in firearms by the FBI and would use their weapons only to defend against an attempted breach of the cockpit, the resolution said. The resolution also calls for federal licensing of pilots to carry concealed weapons and for the government to indemnify air carriers and their employees against the legitimate use of a firearm. If those steps are not carried out, the resolution calls for a national suspension of air service, at such times and in such manner as is deemed appropriate by the leadership of the Air Line Pilots Association. Were hearing members of Congress say they dont want a bunch of armed hooligans running around, said Giuda, a New Hampshire state representative. He said there was no more professionalized, highly-scrutinized group of people in the world than airline pilots. The security of the flight deck cannot depend solely on armed sky marshals, he said. Sky marshals can be picked out of a crowd and, if overpowered, would provide a hijacker with a weapon, Giuda said. Its time to throw the gauntlet to the mat. We are going to get politicized into unarmed cockpits and then well get shot with the guns the marshals used because they will be taken away from them, he added. Arming pilots introduces the element of risk, fear and doubt into the mind of a potential hijacker, he said.
That's the flip side of the remarks in my last post. A gun isn't a magic talisman of protection, any more than it's a magic talisman of evil. It's a tool, which has to be used properly.
A possible solution: put a better lock on the cockpit door, mason jars for the cockpit crew to piddle in, a small airlock for transferring food/paperwork to/from the cabin, and a sky marshal in the cockpit jump seat. Said sky marshal would be trained at least as well as Delta Force or SEAL Team 6. His job: if someone forces the cockpit door open, SHOOT THE BAD GUY AND CLOSE THE DOOR. Repeat as needed while the pilot gets the plane onto the ground posthaste.
This is proof of the sorry state to which we've come.
The standards for political service has deteriorated so any idiot can represent other idiots, and it shows.
Long on socialist rhetoric and short on common sense.
Now, if this idiot were packing, then I'd worry...
And armed passengers can do nothing against a bomb in the luggage compartment, which would be the most cost-effective way to execute your proposed strategy.
This is really bad. Did some idiot in congress really say this!!!???
Yes! Live free or die.
Sarah Brady, John Ashcroft, The Violence Policy Center, peace protesters?
How about??? - ME!!!!!
I haven't shot a thing since this happened, I MUST have a cool head.
I decide that ALL citizens can carry handguns on ALL flights.
There, it's decided - go away.
prambo
AMEN!!! I won't fly ever again unless the pilot or myself is armed!! Perferably both of us! Until then, I'll drive, locked & loaded.
Brilliant observation!
Maybe they will be and we will see how many of the public will wish to fly with brand new replacement pilots. As for me I am not flying until there are armed pilots and a whole bunch more armed honest Americans up on the plane than just a lone sky marshall.
Stay well - Stay safe - stay armed - Yorktown
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.