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Politics : Piffer Thread on Political Rantings and Ravings -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Oral Roberts who wrote (1771)	10/4/2001 9:26:00 AM
From: mph	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 14610

I have some concerns over the notion of arming commercial pilots, which is one of the ideas making the rounds. Most of these folks aren't used to handling a weapon. Even if they were to be given some training, which I daresay the pilot unions would resist, they are simply not going to be competent enough with guns to use them effectively, IMO. Even police officers are not sharp shooters and they have to requalify on the range periodically.Even then, many are not great shots, though simply handling and carrying a gun, along with their other training, gives them the confidence to use them. If we arm pilots, I think we'd have to send them through the LAPD or Sheriff's Academy for a broader course of police training. That's what you're really expecting of pilots once you arm them. I think that videotapes in the cockpit, transmissions via cell or satellite vs. use of the black box for recording cockpit events, reinforced entries to the cockpit, and changes in procedures regarding handling of terrorist demands would be better first places to start for increased security. A sky marshal seems a better alternative than arming pilots. But the cost will be high,given the number of flights countrywide. The already financially strapped airlines would ultimately have to pay for such a program, which then trickles down to the flying public. Security is not cheap or easy to provide.:-(