Posted on 06/19/2002 10:11:29 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
WASHINGTON, June 19 — Lawmakers moved closer today to a confrontation with the Bush administration over guns in airplane cockpits as a House panel endorsed legislation that could arm more than 1,000 pilots in the next two years.
The vote by the House Transportation Committee's aviation subcommittee runs counter to the administration's decision last month not to allow the arming of pilots. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate.
Bipartisan groups of lawmakers in both houses are trying to overturn the decision of the director of the Transportation Security Administration, John Magaw, to keep guns out of the cockpit. They are supported by the pilots' unions and the powerful National Rifle Association, a Bush ally.
Though the bill has a long way to go before it reaches President's Bush desk, the panel's overwhelming voice-vote support illustrates how popular the idea is on Capitol Hill.
"It's a difference in policy between the bureaucrats and the elected officials," said the subcommittee chairman, Representative John L. Mica, Republican of Florida. "I think we're closer to the people."
Republican and Democratic lawmakers on the aviation subcommittee worked out a compromise for a two-year test program. During that period, up to 1,400 pilots, 2 percent of the work force, could volunteer to undergo training and obtain permission to carry guns on board an airplane they are piloting. Priority would be given to pilots with military or law enforcement backgrounds. Flight attendants would get separate self-defense training.
After two years, the Transportation Security Administration would decide whether to end the program, continue it, or expand it.
Airline pilots have been pushing for the right to carry guns, and Duane Woerth, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, praised the House panel's action.
"We give this bipartisan compromise our full support, and we thank all the legislators involved for allowing this issue to go forward," Mr. Woerth said.
The rifle association, meanwhile, is urging its members to call the Bush administration and Congress in support of the bill.
While legislation progresses in the House, the bill is opposed by the head of the Senate panel with jurisdiction over the issue, Ernest F. Hollings, Democrat of South Carolina, the chairman of the Commerce Committee.
"It's a difference in policy between the bureaucrats and the elected officials," said the subcommittee chairman, Representative John L. Mica, Republican of Florida. "I think we're closer to the people."
Two stinking percent? That sounds a lot closer to Magaw than to the people, eh Mr. Mica?
File this bill under worthless. It isn't a plan to arm pilots; rather a plan to get the people off the backs of congress.
Bingo.
Thank goodness for the Eisenhower Interstate System! I can carry all the fingernail-clippers, Bowie-knives, Dirty-Harry .44 mags, and Mossberg-shotguns in my car that I want!
That should be enough.........FRegards
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.