Arming The Free: Let Airline Pilots And Passengers Terrorize Thugs

HEADLINE: Arming The Free: Let Airline Pilots And Passengers Terrorize Thugs

Osama bin Laden gleefully proclaimed on Sunday that Americans are afraid and will remain so until they meet his demands.

Indeed, even after pairing back schedules and cutting fares, U.S. airlines are flying with 50% of their seats empty. After a knife attack last week on a Greyhound bus that is still not linked to terrorism, bus companies are suffering, and asking Congress for a billion-dollar bailout.

How we deal with this fear will determine our economic direction. Placing armed U.S. marshals on planes will help, as it has helped in the past.

But there is reason to doubt that this is enough to protect even planes, let alone buses and all the other possible vulnerable targets.

Yet, even Bush's promise of one marshal on every plane dramatically increases the size of federal law enforcement. To cover the 35,000 to 40,000 daily flights in the U.S. before Sept. 11, more officers will be needed than the 17,000-plus now working for the FBI, Secret Service, and the U.S. marshals' programs combined.

Assuming that we would need about one marshal for every two working pilots implies more than 50,000 marshals.

The attack on Sept. 11 changed many rules for American hijackings. During the 1970's, hijackers trying to get to Cuba typically were operating alone. But bin Laden put five hijackers on each of three planes, and four on another.

Plainclothes marshals have an advantage over terrorists, since the latter don't know which passengers are armed.

But having only one marshal per plane creates the potential for hijackers to reveal themselves in stages. After the marshal reveals himself, hijackers who had remained hidden as passengers could then attack.

One solution is for other people to carry guns. Off-duty and retired federal law enforcement, police, and military frequently travel for pleasure, or work for the airlines.

Al Marchand, age 44, a steward on United Airlines 175, the second plane that crashed into the World Trade Center, retired last year after a 21-year career as a highly decorated police officer. Among his awards were a combat cross, officer of the year and three exceptional duty awards. He also served in the U.S. Army.

Pilots on all four flights that crashed were also former military men. Why couldn't we trust someone like Marchand with a gun?

There are about 600,000 recently active state and local law enforcement officers in the U.S. today, and many travel on vacation. Discount fares could encourage them to fly with their guns.

Bush's proposal to strengthen cockpit doors is helpful, but it doesn't eliminate the need to arm pilots. Doors can be blown open. Terrorists can breach security and obtain the key or code used to open the door. Israel's El Al airline both secures doors and arms pilots, for a reason.

The Greyhound incident also illustrates the general importance of having armed people protect us. Off-duty police officers couldn't legally carry concealed loaded guns on that bus because officers are forbidden from carrying guns across state lines. Just last year, in a 372-to-53 vote, the House of Representatives passed an amendment allowing off-duty police to carry their guns with them wherever they travel in the country, but it failed to get through the Senate.

Another option to guard against terrorist attacks is to encourage more citizens to buy guns. If Americans carried concealed handguns at the same rate as Israelis, over 21 million would have permits.

A few years ago, after a wave of terror attacks, Israel's national Police Chief Yaacov Terner called on all concealed handgun permit holders to carry firearms at all times. Israelis realize that the police simply can't be there all the time to protect people when terrorists attack.

Despite considerable scholarly research that passive behavior is dangerous, docility is becoming ingrained in our culture. The Federal Aviation Agency even forbids pilots to carry nail clippers.

Disarming the law-abiding and not the criminals just increases the likelihood of terror.

John R. Lott Jr. is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of "More Guns, Less Crime" (University of Chicago Press, 2000).

Every American who currently qualifies for a CCW in any state. I will concede to special restrictions on qualification and ammunition but I believe that dealing with this type of problem is one of the reasons that the Second Amendment exists. Further, I refer you to the letters of marque provisions in the Constitution. IMHO we will need close to 200,00 sky marshalls to provide adequate airline safety. Lott talks of 50,000 and he points out the need for multiple sky marshalls becuas merely holding a couple of terrorists in reserve on a flight would trump one sky marshall.

the alternative will be more Boeing cruise missles with passengers aboard.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

Gun Owners of America E-Mail/FAX Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
October 11, 2001

Congratulations!

Earlier today, the Senate, via a unanimous consent vote, adopted the Bob Smith (R-NH)/Frank Murkowski (R-AK) amendment to allow airline pilots to carry firearms. The amendment was also cosponsored by Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Conrad Burns (R-MT).

The bill now goes to the House. After that, it will probably go to a House-Senate conference to work out the details.

This is an enormous victory for GOA members who lobbied relentlessly to sway reluctant senators.

BUT THE BATTLE IS NOT OVER!

Next week, the House will take up its version of the Aviation Security Bill. A number of congressmen are considering offering amendments to arm pilots, but they must first secure the approval of the House leadership and the House Rules Committee in order to offer any amendment.

ACTION: Please contact House Speaker Dennis Hastert, House Republican Leader Dick Armey, and House Republican Whip Tom DeLay and demand that they allow the House to vote on the armed pilots amendment in connection with the Aviation Security Bill.

Contact Info:
Rep. Dennis Hastert
E-mail: dhastert@mail.house.gov
Phone: 202-225-2976
Fax: 202-225-0697

Rep. Dick Armey
No Public E-mail
Phone: 202-225-7772
Fax: 202-226-8100

Rep. Tom DeLay
No Public E-mail
Phone: 202-225-5951
Fax: 202-225-5241

----- Pre-written message -----

Dear Representative __________:

When the Aviation Security Act comes before the House, I hope you will use your leadership position to allow amendments to the bill that would let pilots be armed.

There are plenty of aviation engineers who agree that bullet holes will not cause a massive depressurization in a plane. If depressurization was truly a concern, then why are we even considering putting air marshals on planes? Their bullets will be no different from the ones being used by the pilots. But more to the point, there is no way we can get an air marshal on all 35,000 daily flights.

So the only way to deter these terrorists is to make sure that our last line of defense -- the pilots -- can protect the plane. Reinforcing the cockpit doors is also a good idea, but it's not a panacea. Are we to assume that on a long trip the door will NEVER be opened? That pilots will NEVER take a bathroom break? That there is no one among the flight crew who will ever have the keys or security codes to open the door?

Reinforcing the cockpit doors can help. But the only way to stop terrorism on board aircraft is to let these villains know in advance that, if they ever try to invade the cockpit, they'll be sorry.

Please support language that will allow pilots to be armed, and thus, will enable them to protect the lives of their crewmembers and passengers.

Thank you.

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