All Airline Pilots Should Be Armed
All Airline Pilots should be Armed
Abstract
The issue of pilots carrying weapons, while flying, is not new. Since the earliest days of pilots flying the U.S. Mail, they carried guns to protect themselves and the vital cargo of mail. Today, pilots are authorized to fly with weapons to protect the aircraft, their passengers, and themselves from hijackers and terrorists. It has become a last line of defense in case of a hostile takeover of the aircraft, turning it into a weapon of mass destruction, as we witnessed, during the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center (9/11). The controversy surrounding this issue today has grown into heated debates with anti-gun lobbyist protest, and even the pilots themselves proclaiming their objections. However, through legislation, new laws have been passed to give pilots the option to undergo training and become a deputy federal officer. There are several legal and liability issues surrounding the controversy, as well as many objections people have against arming the pilots. In addition, other security options have evolved since 9/11.
Arming Airline Pilots
In order to create a last line of defense against terrorism every airline pilot should be armed. Since the attacks on the World Trade Center (9/11), many people support arming airline pilots; however, many think it is more dangerous and puts passengers’ lives at risk. Some people think that a bullet hole in an airplane will cause a crash, or that reinforcing the cockpit door is enough to keep out hijackers. Others think that putting a Federal Air Marshal on every flight is the answer to hijackings. Most airline pilots are prior military and are fully capable of handling a weapon, and it does not take much training for others. There are also several legal and liability issues involved; however, the bottom line is that the most effective anti- terrorism measure would be to arm every pilot.
On November 25, 2002, President Bush signed the Arming Pilots against
Abstract
The issue of pilots carrying weapons, while flying, is not new. Since the earliest days of pilots flying the U.S. Mail, they carried guns to protect themselves and the vital cargo of mail. Today, pilots are authorized to fly with weapons to protect the aircraft, their passengers, and themselves from hijackers and terrorists. It has become a last line of defense in case of a hostile takeover of the aircraft, turning it into a weapon of mass destruction, as we witnessed, during the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center (9/11). The controversy surrounding this issue today has grown into heated debates with anti-gun lobbyist protest, and even the pilots themselves proclaiming their objections. However, through legislation, new laws have been passed to give pilots the option to undergo training and become a deputy federal officer. There are several legal and liability issues surrounding the controversy, as well as many objections people have against arming the pilots. In addition, other security options have evolved since 9/11.
Arming Airline Pilots
In order to create a last line of defense against terrorism every airline pilot should be armed. Since the attacks on the World Trade Center (9/11), many people support arming airline pilots; however, many think it is more dangerous and puts passengers’ lives at risk. Some people think that a bullet hole in an airplane will cause a crash, or that reinforcing the cockpit door is enough to keep out hijackers. Others think that putting a Federal Air Marshal on every flight is the answer to hijackings. Most airline pilots are prior military and are fully capable of handling a weapon, and it does not take much training for others. There are also several legal and liability issues involved; however, the bottom line is that the most effective anti- terrorism measure would be to arm every pilot.
On November 25, 2002, President Bush signed the Arming Pilots against
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