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To: SBeck
In a letter to two senators, the White House recommended giving pilots lockboxes for the weapons so they won't be left in the cockpit. It also said only pilots who volunteer to carry weapons and receive extensive training should be armed.

If we didn't have all the unconstitutional restrictions on carrying in public places, pilots could merely carry their weapon in their chart case, just like they probably did before the anal retentive gun grabbers got into the act. As for "extensive" training, I fail to see why any more training should be required for airline pilots than for concealed carry permit applicants in most states. Say 8-10 hour of combined classroom and range training and qualificatioin. They aren't going to be making any long distance pistol shots inside the cockpit, so making use of the original point and click (hopefully point and bang) interface shouldn't require much training. These are pilots after all, who have to meet moderately stringent physicial requirements just to begin their training, or maintain their rating. I don't think shooting some Jihadi at 3 or 4 feet should be a big technical or physical challenge. The "when to shoot" part would of course be covered in the classroom portion.

What makes this insistence on "extensive training" so ridiculous is the fact of the 15 minutes of weapons and bomb identification training handed out to the screeners when they were federalized.

The pilots are responsible for the safety of the aircraft, crew, and passengers. Allow them the tools to do the job. That would include a reasonable amount of training, but nothing more than the equivalent of 1 working day.

7 posted on 09/05/2002 4:18:17 PM PDT by El Gato
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To: El Gato
Ever been in a close quarter combat situation? It's not the physical but mental training that takes time to develop. Hesitation always kills.
9 posted on 09/05/2002 4:20:35 PM PDT by SBeck
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To: El Gato
More to the point, most commercial pilots are ex military types. They've been around guns and are familiar with handling and storing them. Its not like we need Norman Mineta's bureaucrats to teach them something they already know how to do.
10 posted on 09/05/2002 4:20:54 PM PDT by goldstategop
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To: El Gato
Diddo..
16 posted on 09/05/2002 4:29:21 PM PDT by tall_tex
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To: El Gato
If training is a big deal, then simply provide an instructor and shooting range at every airport. On a long layover, the pilot can squeeze off a few rounds and keep his proficiency at it's peak.
48 posted on 09/05/2002 6:22:13 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants
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