Posted on 05/26/2002 11:58:49 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
"If hijackers are able to force themselves into the cockpit, all that pilots have to prevent the plane from being turned into a cruise missile is a crash ax, a flashlight and a flight manual."
That's what David Stempler, president of the Air Travelers Association had to say while endorsing pilots carrying guns in the cockpit. Oh, now I feel safe.
I say, give the pilot an "armed seat." If the cockpit door is broken open, the pilot pushes a button and the back of the seat would let go with a fatal blast, killing the terrorist SOB.
Never mind that thousands of lives are at risk from air terrorism. John Magaw, undersecretary of transportation security, with Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta hiding behind him, told a senate committee that pilots don't need guns. In fact, Magaw said he decided they will not have them.
I repeat what I said last September: If pilots are denied this one last chance to save lives, they should strike. Now. There's no requirement they sacrifice their lives for their job.
Remember, the same government refusing guns for pilots has decided that if a terrorist does get into the cockpit, the government will order the plane shot down, killing everyone!
Please explain where it says on my ticket that when I board the flight, I put my life in the hands of a bureaucrat Washington with his finger on the "fire" button.
I hope intrepid trial lawyers are loading their legal ammo for the lawsuits with Magaw's name on them the next time a plane is hijacked.
And there will be a next time if you listen to Rumsfeld, Cheney, et al. It's one doomsday headline after another from these men telling us it's not if, just when, and we can't prevent it.
They speak for the government. But it's the primary job of government to protect citizens, first within our borders and then beyond.
The warnings we're getting, with all the gloom and doom of Armageddon, is that when this apocalypse happens, it will be here, on our home turf.
OK. If that is the case, then what's wrong with taking all means to protect ourselves?
How safe are we?
Despite all the hoo haa, ever since Sept. 11, people have gotten past airline security with guns, knives, swords and all other kinds of possible weapons.
Bolstered with their new importance as "government employees," airport security workers feel free to search people arbitrarily, practice rudeness, get too personal with body searches, waste time on the wrong people and manhandle personal belongings.
Airport employment checks across the country have shown high numbers of employees who weren't American citizens, lied on their applications, used false ID's and had criminal records. These were people doing security checks and maintenance people with access to planes. Any of them could hide a weapon or bomb onboard, if that was their intent.
They should have been fired, but no! Excuses were found. As for citizenship, it's in the works now to speed up legalizing them. Wait a minute! Why the special treatment?
Just what is the line between us and terrorists who may try to pull another hijacking horror similar to 9-11?
If you listen to the administration … Well, if you listen to the administration, what you hear is that "we just don't know."
So what's the problem with Magaw and Mineta?
You have a plane filled with people, cargo and fuel and flying at high altitude and speed. Terrorists take over. It doesn't matter whether they have box cutters, guns, bombs or nail clippers. At some point, they get into the cockpit.
If they get that far, clearly the rest of the people in the plane couldn't stop them. At that moment, life and death are in balance between the terrorist at the door and the pilots.
What do they do? According to the guys safe on the ground and protected by armed security people – "just fly the plane."
Are those pilots – educated, trained, experienced, responsible and with a desire to live to get home to their families – able to defend themselves and the hundreds whose lives they have in their hands?
No. Because John Magaw has decided – no guns.
It makes as much sense as police without guns or a disarmed Secret Service. In fact, it makes as much sense as telling citizens they can't defend their homes with a gun.
It's not about stopping terrorism – it's about guns and the attempt to disarm all Americans. It shows how little value bureaucrats put on our lives and how pitiful is the war on terrorism.
Evil comes in many forms.
Those who would act to disarm the innocent are the most evil of all.
Burn in hell, Magaw. Burn in hell.
Curiously, armed pilots were allowed up until the mid-nineties.
Mind you, none of them took advantage of the privilage, but the ability was there until Clinton took it away.
There's another bastard who may kindly burn in hell, please.
The problem is that both Magaw and Mineta work for the Clintonled Demarxocratic Party.
They believe in arming only government agents - not civilians.
Magaw and Minetta should be forced to resign immediately.
A pilot's strike to win this issue is the one time I would support a strike by any union.
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