Brady Campaign Statement on Recent Proposals to Increase Airline Security, Including Arming Pilots

US Newswire ^ | 9/26/2001 | Amy Stilwell

[Utah Girl]

Brady Campaign Statement on Airline Security
U.S. Newswire
26 Sep 17:04

Brady Campaign Statement on Recent Proposals to Increase Airline
Security, Including Arming Pilots
To: National Desk
Contact: Amy Stilwell of The Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun
Violence, 202-898-0792

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Michael D. Barnes,
President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, today
issued the following statement regarding recent proposals to
increase airline security by arming pilots of commercial aircraft:

"The terrorist attacks of September 11 have inspired, and
rightly so, a national debate regarding how best to heighten
security at U.S. airports and on commercial flights. In this
difficult time, we understand the intense fears of airline pilots,
passengers and crew following the horrific hijackings, and we
support doing everything we can to strengthen aircraft and airport
security.

"However, we do have some serious concerns about recent
proposals to arm airline pilots. Safety begins with prevention. We
need to make sure that armed terrorists are not able to board
aircraft in the first place. In addition to dramatically increasing
security at the airport (for instance, enhancing cockpit security
and intensifying passenger and luggage screening), there are
tangible things we can do to make our 'homeland' safer.

"These measures include requiring background checks on all gun
sales to prevent criminals, and would-be terrorists, from obtaining
guns, and retaining records of gun purchases, so that weapons can
be traced if they are used in a crime or terrorist act. If we can
detect terrorists while they are attempting to amass their
arsenals, we can help to prevent future attacks and take a key step
forward in the effort to boost the security of all Americans.

"Over the coming weeks and months, we can expect to see many
proposals geared toward augmenting security on commercial flights.
These proposals, in particular the question of whether to arm
pilots, should be considered with great care. There are a number of
questions that need to be answered before we proceed. Can we ensure
that a weapon on an airplane will not fall into the wrong hands?
Could firing the gun in a plane compromise its integrity, causing
it to crash? When would pilots be authorized to use guns?

"The FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration are looking at
this issue, and we support their desire to study it. At a minimum,
we need to ensure that anyone armed on a plane meets strict
qualifications and is trained as a sworn federal law enforcement
officer. Air marshals are an appropriate response to stopping
terrorism in the air because they are law enforcement officers who
are continually trained in firearms safety, appropriate use of
force, and shoot/don't-shoot scenarios. Trained air marshals would
have one purpose, which is to monitor the airplane and protect the
passengers and crew.

"Finally, models exist for preventing terrorism on aircraft
without arming pilots exist. One such example is El Al, the Israeli
airlines. I have traveled on El Al and was impressed with its
security program. While we cannot draw exact parallels between the
El Al and the entire U.S. airline industry, we should closely
examine all such models and learn from their experience."
 

[San Jacinto]

Top Five Reasons of Brady Campaign Not to Arm Pilots:

5. A pilot might actually be mentally unstable and should not be trusted with something so dangerous as a gun.

4. What if the gun snuck out of its holster while the pilot was busy and shot someone?

3. A flight atttendant might see a gun in the pilot's pocket and mistakenly believe he is sexually aroused, resulted in a case of sexual harrassment.

2. Recognizing an old friend, a passenger might say, "HI, Jack!", and be shot on the spot.

AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON:

1. PILOTS MIGHT HIJACK THEMSELVES TO CUBA!

[San Jacinto]

Dad killed the steers with one blow each from his right hand

Was he holding a balpeen hammer at the time?

[kylaka]

GASP!!!! Guns on an airliner!!!!!! God forbid, somebody might die!!!!

[ccmay]

Well, to turn around one of their favorite sayings: "If it saves just one life it will be worth it!" How about 7000 lives, Sarah?

-ccm

[NovemberCharlie]

...and retaining records of gun purchases, so that weapons can be traced if they are used in a crime or terrorist act. If we can detect terrorists while they are attempting to amass their arsenals, we can help to prevent future attacks...

Anyone else see the logical inconsistency here? Puchase records can only prevent a crime if you take the gun away before they commit it.

[SauronOfMordor]

To make sure no one ever gets on board with a lethal weapon, you would have to amputate all hands and feet.

Without weapons, you might need more hijackers, but 10 people expert in hand-to-hand could still take over a plane.

[choosetheright]

If you actually take the time to read the original post, it does not say the Brady gang opposes arming pilots. It says they have "concerns" about the proposal, that it "should be considered with great care," and that the FBI and FAA are doing the right thing by studying the issue. And the press release seems to support putting armed sky marshalls on planes. Last time I checked, those are exactly the same things that President Bush is saying about these same issues.

There is certainly a lot of anti-gun rhetoric mixed into the press release (about background checks, etc.), but I am surprised that they actually are not taking a reflexively anti-gun position on the pilot issue.

[Hot Tabasco]

but 10 people expert in hand-to-hand could still take over a plane.

This is true! But 20 could do it even easier. With 40 the possibilities are endless........

...and with a whole plane load of em, they would all end up killing themselves arguing about where to go, which target to hit, who is going to drive and anchovies or no anchovies! I'm all for it.....