[TomGuy]

2% ?

That seems to be how serious the GWB administration is on terrorists in the US. Still open borders, amnesty for illegals, stripsearching 80 year old Caucasian ladies at the airport, now test-arming 2% of the pilots.

[Bahbah]

Yaaaay. They will expand the program. A glimmer of light?

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

What is the purpose of a test? Are they going to see if these 1,400 pilots can manage to keep from accidentally shooting themselves or each other on the flight deck during the test period?

Ridiculous. Arm them all RIGHT NOW!

[pttttt]

It's a start. Although a slow one.

[lawdude]

I'm betting it won't be a week before a crazed pilot goes through the plane, shooting any and all before him. He will then apologise and re-register as a democrat!

[CWRWinger]

The Bush administration plans to adopt a small-scale test program of arming commercial pilots

There is a long held theory which states everytime the government gets involved, there are problems. When I first started flying on commercial airlines, pilots could be armed and frequently were. I don't recall the government setting a criteria then.

The rebels who operate our government and dictate to us what our freedoms are, can't stand the thought bringing back an old liberty and right without their micro-managing control.

I can just see what this 'test program' will look like: 75% multi-cultural training, 20% criminal rights training and 5 rounds fired at an indoor range.

[joesnuffy]

Having thousands of armed pilots in airports would mean thousands of weapons that could fall into the wrong hands, Magaw said at the time. "We just don't want to subject the transportation system to additional firearms," he said.

ya wouldnt want anything falling into the wrong hands...... Feds loose laptops and hundreds of weapons http://theregister.co.uk/content/7/20453.html

[CPOSharky]

"The responsibility of the pilot is to control the aircraft," Magaw said.

It's kinda hard to control an airplane when you are dead. What's the best way to prevent being dead? Especially when it is one smallish door the perp will trying to coming through?

[patriciaruth]

Bet my 767 airline Captain friend is in the test program. He already has a concealed carry permit, and he has been active in trying to get the right to be armed. It's personal. He wants a last ditch means to defend himself from someone intent on cutting his throat.

I wrote a couple letter by hand to one of my Senators and to my Congressman in connection with NRA's Operation Secure Blue. Hope all of us together are finally having an effect on policy.

[Mulder]

Don't be surprised if this proposal contains making these 2% of the pilots federal employees, or bestows some authority on them, like "temporary acting air marshal".

You see, peasants can't carry only. Only the annointed knights of the federal gov't.

[NittanyLion]

Well, it's a start. Usually incrementalism seems to work in the other direction. Although I sure wish the GOP would've been in front of the issue, instead of reacting to pressure from Boxer and Daschle.

[GOPyouth]

I'm content with this small scale test. I'm torn on the issue or arming all pilots. 2 issues have risen on this thread. 1. Should every single pilot be armed immediately? 2. Is Bush a Socialist?

1. I think arming every single pilot right now is a mistake. Do we arm a pilot that has a drinking problem? Who comes to the cockpit drunk? I don't think all pilots are prepared to handle that responsibility of firing a gun, while at the same time protecting the passengers.
2. These extremist comments about Bush being a Socialist are just that...extreme. To some, this guy can't do anything right unless he secedes from the Union and destroys all government.