Pilot Charged in Carry - On Gun Case

News from the A.P./The New York Times ^ | June 8, 2002 | The Associated press

[ladybast]

Filed at 2:59 p.m. ET

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- An American Airlines pilot faces misdemeanor charges for toting a loaded gun in his carry-on baggage while trying to board a plane at the San Diego airport.

William F. Blaylock told authorities he uses the gun for hunting and personal protection and had forgotten to remove it from his bag before heading to Lindbergh Field on April 23.

The weapon was detected during airport security screening.

On Friday, prosecutors filed two misdemeanor charges against Blaylock who, if convicted, faces up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. He has been free on bond since April 24 and will be arraigned next week.

The airline wouldn't comment.

[Syncro]

Last Monday I talked with a supervisor of Maintenance of one of the airlines in the bay area here in No Calif.

He said the first thing they did after 9-11 was make the doors to the Pilot's cabin more secure....big deal still to vurnerable IMO.

When I asked him about arming pilots he said they are considering tazers instead of guns.

IMO they will NEVER allow guns for pilots...just by default for terrorists.

Their program now (at least for the airline he works for) is to completely cut off the front cabin from the rest of the airplane...have the front door only go to the cockpit and have no access from the rest of the plane.

For obvious reasons.

Still if terrorists get control of the passenger area, they will be able to communicate with the pilot area so their will still be problems.

At least some of the things they are doing make sense.

[Demidog]

There are lots of handgun hunters out there. In "God, Guns and Rock 'n Roll" Ted Nugent talks about the taking of an Alaskan Elk at 150 yards with a 44 Magnum.

[leadpenny]

It's just a matter of time until the Allied Pilots and/or ALPA conducts a major work stoppage. At least that is my hope.

[patriciaruth]

I know some of the pilots feel very strongly about having some last line of defense way to save their lives, and thus their plane and passengers, before some terrorists jumps in and cuts their throat.

If there's one more incident of pilot death in a hijacking, I suspect the planes won't fly again till the pilots have guns. But the major stumbling block is not the government, it is the airline corporations themselves fearful about liability.

[ittybittyspider]

Aircraft are getting so sophisticated, there may be only a pilot and a dog in the cockpit. The pilot to feed the dog, - and the dog to bite the pilot if he touches anything.

[Pushi]

I know several people who have forgotten and taken guns in prohibited places. Recently, the owner of the bank in this town forgot to take the gun out of his briefcase when he went into the courthouse. They caught him. I had a Bulgarian immigrant friend that was an insurance agent in an office that had been robbed. The boss told everyone they should bring a gun to work. After work, he went into (this was several years ago) the immigration office in Houston and the guards found the gun. The federal magistrate that he went before was very understanding. The guy is a citizen now--and a good one at that. Even I have taken my gun places that I did not intend to take it. And, except for forgetting things like that, I am perfect.

[Pushi]

Arm them? Don't they have arms? How do they fly?

With wings!

[Pushi]

Yeah, personally I'd like to see the pilots of all airlines call a strike over the issue--all at once. That would get everyone's attention.

[CindyDawg]

You can dish it out but can't take it huh? LOL (just teasing)

[RedBloodedAmerican]

You can dish it out but can't take it huh? LOL (just teasing)

ha! Yes, I can :)

but i was trying to make a point that expecting our screen names to reflect our personalities or views can be misleading.

Otherwise...

Is it hard for you to get a date? (Just teasing).

Pilots I know are NOT for arming. Only ALPA and we know how they treat the airlines. You can trace allot of problems within airlines back to them.

[Myrddin]

What kind of hunting weapon can you put in a carry on piece of luggage?

Ruger .454 Casull w/scope

[SBeck]

Never happen. The airlines would just go out and hire hungry pilots from the regionals.

[SBeck]

Damn, if that's to scale, who can handle it? Shaquille O'Neal? :-)

[goldstategop]

Let this be a test case for the stupidity of our prosecutors. I hope a jury acquits him and helps to establish the principle pilots can carry a loaded gun with them into the cockpit. 911 NEVER AGAIN!!!

[leadpenny]

The airlines would just go out and hire hungry pilots from the regionals.

Don't bet on it. You "scab" once in that business and you're forever marked. Besides, who'd train 'em in the new equipment.

[Brian Allen]

Seems to me you would be safer with an armed pilot and copilot.

Seems to me we would all be REALLY SAFE if we did the United States Constitution thingie and, if we felt like it, were all armed!

Oh -- and if none of the new-style low-bidder pilots were quota hires and pilot-costumed computer-gamers.

[Myrddin]

I shoot it without the scope with Hornady 300 gr JHP moving at 1500 fps at the 50 yard mark. 1500 ft/lbs of energy. It stings your palms. With a 45 Colt 255 gr FN propelled by 7 gr of Winchester 231, you can shoot it one handed with total comfort. My "plinking" rounds are made with a 200 gr FMJ with 37 gr of Winchester 296. Feels just a bit hotter than a full house 44 mag. 2000 fps muzzle velocity. It produces about a 24 inch flame from the muzzle and lots of racket. Not a hunting round...just playtime at the range.

The 300 gr JHP is adequate for black bear, elk, mule deer. I'm going to take the 45-70 revolver for the moose hunt. It might be a bit big for most luggage. That 10 inch barrel required a zip case made for a Springfield Scout survival rifle. Nothing designed for conventional handguns would do. The current version of the BFR in 45-70 will shoot the 500 gr 45-70 rounds just fine. Chamber pressure is limited to 30,000 PSI per the gunsmith at Magnum research. That's slightly hotter than the upper end of a Springfield Trapdoor 1873 model rifle, but below the upper bound capability of a Marlin 1895G Lever action at 40,000 CUP. The caption on the cartridge picture was true for the first year's production of the 45-70 BFR. The 2002 model handles 300, 405 and 500 gr ammo with an extended cylinder and beefed up frame. The cartridge images is to scale. It's 2.55 inches long.

[Orion]

It's just a matter of time until the Allied Pilots and/or ALPA conducts a major work stoppage. At least that is my hope.

If you liked the days following 9/11 (no air travel) then keep letting Congress do what they are doing.

This is what Congress thinks will never happen. One more hijacking where the pilot gets killed, or the GOP taking away our ability to strike and imposing binding arbitration, taxing the jumpseat, taking away the jumpseat, or any host of other methods of gov't intrusion will inspire a grass-roots "sick out" or "withdraw of enthusiasm." Think about the AA 2/99 sickout or the UAL 2000 "summer of love" on a much bigger scale and you get the idea.

I must tell you, the support for this is huge (although I will neither confirm nor deny that I support it.)

[Republic]

This pilot actively demonstrates to me the NECESSITY of pilots having a gun as a last line of defence. I am sorry he got charged. Some laws are bad laws. Not allowing pilots to carry is one.