It really should be up to each airline, IMHO. If you own a place and ask people to check in their weapons before entering, it is your right. And they have the right to take their business elsewhere. Only thing is, the government wants the power to throw the book at anyone trying to sneak a gun on board a plane.
This particular battle over pilots being armed is doing a lot of good for gun rights in general.
You're right in part ... but if the sheeple weren't so dumbed down, and REALLY thought about things, they wouldn't tolerate standing in the LONG, obstructive lines at airports like they have. &;-)