Remind All Lawmakers
to Support Arming Pilots
|
"..."If something were to happen, the last option
is to shoot down an airplane. We want to avoid that at all costs..." |
|
|
-- U.S. Representative John Thune (R-S.D.) |
|
Rep. Thune (R-SD) |
Legislation that would provide for the arming of properly trained flight
deck crew is gaining momentum in both chambers of Congress. These
proposals -
H.R. 4635 in the House and
S. 2554 in the Senate - would mandate
programs that would allow properly trained commercial airline pilots and
other flight deck crew to have access to firearms as a last line of
defense against terrorist hijackers.
On Wednesday, the U.S. House
Subcommittee on Aviation approved H.R. 4635 after it was amended. The
bill now seeks to establish a two-year test program that will eventually
allow for as many as 1,400 commercial airline pilots to have access to
firearms aboard their aircrafts. While NRA would like to see this
option extended to all properly trained flight deck crew, this
legislation represents a good first step in the right direction.
While some anti-gun lawmakers still balk at the idea of arming pilots to
defend against terrorist hijackers - preferring to rely on reinforced
cockpit doors and the unthinkable, last-step "option" of U.S. military
aircraft shooting down commercial airplanes - many lawmakers clearly
understand why arming pilots is a good idea when dealing with the threat
of terrorist hijackings. "If something were to happen, the last option
is to shoot down an airplane," pointed out
U.S. Representative John Thune (R-S.D.). "We want to avoid that at all costs." Arming pilots
will best ensure we never see a repeat of September 11, and we don't
have to worry about the possibility of that "last option."
H.R. 4635 now has 52 co-sponsors, and is scheduled to be addressed next
Wednesday, June 26, by the full House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee. S. 2554, which extends the training program to all qualified
flight deck crew, has 11 co-sponsors, and both bills also provide
self-defense training for flight attendants.
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
Keep Up The Pressure on Magaw & Mineta (May 2002)
Magaw & Mineta Say "NO" to Armed Pilots (May 2002)
Call to Arm Pilots Grows Louder (May 2002)
Airline Pilots Petition President Bush (Apr. 2002)
Aviation Security Bill Includes Armed Pilots Language (Nov. 2001)
|
|
