Bump, good idea!

I hear what the opponents of pilots w/guns are saying: Pilots need to focus on their task at hand. They're not trained to be policement, etc. However, in a desperate situation the pilot and co-pilot are the last line of defense for the poor innocents on board. They might never even need to use the gun, but for heaven's sake, they can be trusted with one!

Screwed this post up....

Gonna have to get used to it.

fix I hope

Great article from Mr. Lott (as usual). What happened to this post? Sure is a lot of empty space at the end, at least it's that way on my screen.

Had to battle my way through a blizzard to get here!

Guns, yes...hand-grenades, no!

My dad's first criticism of the "air marshal" approach was the cost to pay 1 or more marshals per aircraft. They are going to have to factor that into the price of airline tickets or face the same stupid consequences as California purchasing electricity with tax dollars. It would be much better to have citizens with CCWs that have had an extra certification aboard aircraft. Ditto for pilots. I would pay the cost out of my pocket for the extra certification on top of my CCW in exchange for the right to be armed (with proper ammo) and excused from the asinine shakedown by security. As with any CCW holder, the ideal situation is to never have to fire the weapon. After the Sep 11th attack, I wouldn't think twice about intervening.

I'm not sure Basil... New Format that the tech guys are working on I think! Been lots of bugs tonight!

Excellent article. Thanks for posting it.

My dad's first criticism of the "air marshal" approach was the cost to pay 1 or more marshals per aircraft.

This in an excellent point, and one that is often ignored by the people who place "emotion over logic".

Yes, it would be nice to have an air marshall on every flight, but it is cost prohibitive as you state and John Lott implies. Furthermore, the job is incredibly boring, and a high turnover rate should be expected.

As a taxpayer, if someone has been thourougly trained, and is "clean" enough to get a security clearance, I'd much rather have them chasing down terrorists than keeping a seat plane warm for their entire careers.

CCW holders, police officers, and pilots should definately be allowed to carry guns on flights.

I have the security clearances too, but that's all I'll say on that matter. I wouldn't want the "job" as "air marshal". I would be willing to bring my CCW when I had a specific need to fly. The downside is that the very flights at most risk e.g. bound for Europe, would be problemmatic upon arrival with a firearm. That's about the only time I would have a legitimate need to fly on the class of aircraft that has been hijacked of late.

I too, would gladly pay for the extra training to be able to carry on board. It is absolutly ridiculus that American citizens are being stripped of their fingernail files because some one some where did not do the job that they were suppossed to do. To be fair, I don't think that box cutters were ever prohibited, but even if they were, a regular pocket knife could have done the same thing.

Let the citizenry be armed, and many of the evils in today's world go away.

As much as I agree with the article, it's too much "out of the box" thinking for the bureaucracies that run and regulate airlines. They just can't think of anything other than to give us more of the same things that failed us in the past (metal detectors, baggage searches, banning scissors and nail clippers).

Heck, when they federalize airport security, the Wackenhut guys already there will just change their private security jackets for federal ones. And they'll be the bosses of the new hires. Think of that!

And Congress is no help here either. They're just as stuck in the box as all the rest of them

What we need is for Pres. Bush to issue an Executive Order mandating a national CCW with specific provisions relating to airports, aircraft, churches, restaurants, shopping malls, and other places where the public congregates.

Arm the public and let us be responsible for our own defense!

italics off!

Nobody flagged you guys?

(PING))))))

Ain't gonna happen - although I don't remember hearing of a hijacking of a C-140 transport filled with Navy Seals.

But arming citizens - with all these "sleeper" stories floating around may make sense - but we need to train people in the use of firearms and keep the whack-o's off the street.

Thirty-three states currently have "right-to-carry" laws

Not so. They are "shall issue" a license states. As if we need licensure to defend ourselves...

Having a CHL means less hassle, now that I'm 'legal'.

It's all really very simple: does government trust its citizens? If it ever gets to the point where it does, things may change for the better. If, on the other hand, government continues down the road to over-regulation of every facet of its citizens' lives, then we are on the road to ruin and nothing will stop us.

It all comes down to the old bumper sticker which says:

FEAR THE GOVERNMENT WHICH FEARS YOUR GUN

Vermont is not "shall issue". They just understand the second amendment, so you can carry there. No permits or other unconstitutional BS.

"A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." - Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

To arms, to arms, the terrorists are coming!

America's Militia wants YOU!

We must be ever vigilant in protecting our inalienable rights as enumerated in the Constitution and BOR.

Congress has provided (Article I - Section. 8, U.S. Constitution) the Militia with a means to arm themselves: CMP (Civilian Markmenship Program).

Luke 22:36 (KJV) --Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Got sword? (M1 Garand ==>CMP)

No mercy, no quarter!
May the jihadists burn in hell for eternity!
Help speed them on their way!

Bible quotes in favor of annihilating jihadists

Molon Labe!