Magaw & Mineta Say "NO"
to Armed Pilots
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"...The airlines have exerted the necessary
pressure on the DOT to oppose arming pilots, despite the more than 5,000
favorable comments reportedly received by the FAA..." |
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John Magaw |
Norman Mineta |
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Undersecretary John
Magaw - who headed the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (BATF) during
the Clinton/Gore Administration - proclaimed on Tuesday that he would not
allow properly trained commercial airline pilots or any other flight
deck crew to have access to firearms as a last line of defense against
terrorist hijackers. Magaw, who has been supported in his stance
against arming pilots by Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary
Norman Mineta (a former California Congressman who received an "F" from
NRA when he last sought re-election), told the Senate Aviation
Subcommittee, "Pilots need to concentrate on flying the plane," then
made it clear his position was that only federal air marshals could be
trusted with firearms aboard commercial aircraft.
While the general
public overwhelmingly supports the idea of armed pilots, and the vast
majority of pilots support the idea, it seems the major airlines are
opposed to the concept. The airlines have exerted the necessary
pressure on the DOT to oppose arming pilots, despite the more than 5,000
favorable comments reportedly received by the FAA in evaluating the
issue.
Contact Secretary Mineta and Undersecretary Magaw and remind them that,
just as we trust pilots to be able to fly complicated aircraft, we can
trust them to be able to use a firearm as a last line of defense against
terrorist hijackers. Also remind them that poll after poll shows the
general public also trusts airline pilots with firearms in the cockpit.
You can contact both the DOT and TSA using the same mailing address:
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, DC, 20590.
E-mail can be sent to the DOT
at dot.comments@ost.dot.gov, and to the TSA at
9-AWA-TELLFAA@faa.gov.
Sen. Smith (R-NH) |
In addition, there are two bills in Congress that would provide for the
arming of properly trained flight deck crew. H.R. 4635 - introduced by
U.S. Representatives John Mica (R-Fla.) and
Don Young (R-Alas.) - has 31
co-sponsors, and is gaining support.
S. 2554 was introduced yesterday
by U.S. Senator Bob Smith (R-N.H.), and already has five co-sponsors.
The Senate bill would also provide self defense training for flight
attendants, and is likely to gain their support. Please contact your
U.S. Senators at (202) 224-3121 and your U.S. Representative at (202)
225-3121, and urge them to co-sponsor these bills. Those on the
Internet can find additional contact information by using our "Write Your
Reps" tool at
NRAILA.org.
Related Stories...
More About Federal Issues
Call to Arm Pilots Grows Louder (May 2002)
Airline Pilots Petition President Bush (Apr. 2002)
Aviation Security Bill Includes Armed Pilots Language (Nov. 2001)
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