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Arming Pilots In Both Bills
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Arming Pilots In Both Bills
Subject: Arming Pilots In Both Bills From: nealknox@nealknox.com (Neal Knox) Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 22:42:28 EST
Nov. 2 Neal Knox Update -- H.R. 3150, Transportation Chairman Don Young's (R-Alaska) Republican version of the aviation security bill, was approved by the House last night with language allowing commercial airline pilots to be armed. The Senate bill has the unanimously accepted amendment by Sen. Bob Smith (R-N.H.) calling for cockpit crews to be trained and armed, if the pilots want it and their airlines approve. So some similar language will almost certainly be in the bill that eventually reaches President Bush's desk. I think millions of security-minded, gun-owning passengers can convince the airlines to keep our business by allowing their pilots to be armed -- after all Federal Skymarshals will be on very few flights, but every flight has a pilot. The big difference between the two bills concerns whether the 28,000 or so baggage and people screeners at larger airports would all be Federal employees -- which the House narrowly rejected but the Senate unanimously supported. During the hot rhetoric over that issue there were constant pleadings by both sides for quick improvements in airport screening -- which may take years. If the President and Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta (who voted consistently against gun rights while he was a Democratic Congressman) they could prevent all boxcutter skyjackings within a week. There is a huge cross-over of interest between airplanes and guns; most people who fly also shoot, and many airline pilots have been through private firearms training programs as well as the U.S. military. The House and Senate support for armed pilots would not have occurred if not for the hard work of airline pilots like Capt. Steve Luckey, who chairs the ALPA National Security Committee; Capt. Paul Valone, head of the Safer Skies Coalition (www.RightsWatch.org) and Grass Roots North Carolina; and many other shooter/pilots. This battle is far from over, which is why I was pleased yesterday to talk with another airline captain who has set up a web page, Eric Mosley of www.armingpilots.com.
Because the nation is under lethal attack, and arming commercial airline pilots will unquestionably help make it safer, I've rethought my position on allowing law enforcement officers to be able to carry off-duty out of state. Since a vacationing cop's life and family are no more important than mine or yours, I've declined to support bills such as Rep. Randy Cunningham's H.R. 218 unless it again applies to licensed "civilian" carriers (amended out of the bill on the floor a couple of Congresses back). Also, the pressure of active and retired officers who want to carry out-of-state gives needed leverage to state reciprocity bills and Federal bills like Sen. Bob Smith's, Rep. John Hostettler's (R-Ind.) and Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) But my personal interest must come second to the country's, so "for the duration" I support H.R. 218 -- even though I know the country would be made even safer by national reciprocity for licensed carriers. But cop-carry could quickly be passed, while reciprocity for licensees won't happen any time soon (much less a national Vermont-style Second Amendment law).
The NRA Board has been meeting this week, and will tomorrow consider -- and probably pass -- a "statement of policy" reaffirming the NRA staff's endorsement of Rep. Don Young's (R- Alaska) Conservation and Restoration Act (CARA). A draft statement approved in joint executive session of the Hunting and Wildlife, and Legislative Policy committees, notes the controversy over the "land acquisition aspects" of the bill, and says "The NRA will not support, as a general principle, increased acquisitions of federal lands under CARA or any similar measure where such acquisitions do not provide increased hunting and shooting opportunities."
Gun Owners Action League held a firearms familiarization class at the Massachusetts State House -- and some of the most dedicated opponents of gun ownership showed up! The Boston Herald said the Sept. 11 attacks had created a new attitude on guns and gun ownership. "We're certainly all scared - it's a natural instinct to try and do whatever you can to protect yourself and your loved ones, especially in the face of unknown and un-measurable threats," Rep. Jay Kaufman said, indicating that he probably won't buy a gun but wouldn't rule out the possibility.
Wednesday, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley used the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to demand more prohibitive gun laws. He has a one-track mind; gun-banning is like a religion to him. Fortunately, as in Massachusetts, even devout anti-gunners are rethinking their position.
The off-year elections in Virginia and New Jersey Tuesday aren't looking good for gunowners. Though neither gubernatorial candidate -- Mark Earley and Brent Schundler, respectively -- is as strong for gun rights as I would like, both are head and shoulders over their Democrat opponents. Many of us had doubts about George W. Bush, too, but comparing what he and Attorney General John Ashcroft have done for us, to what "moderate Democrat" Bill Clinton and his attorney general, Janet Reno did to us, I urge you to get to the polls Tuesday to vote for Earley and Schundler. http://www.nealknox.com/alerts/msg00062.html
Subject: Arming Pilots In Both Bills From: nealknox@nealknox.com (Neal Knox) Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 22:42:28 EST
Nov. 2 Neal Knox Update -- H.R. 3150, Transportation Chairman Don Young's (R-Alaska) Republican version of the aviation security bill, was approved by the House last night with language allowing commercial airline pilots to be armed. The Senate bill has the unanimously accepted amendment by Sen. Bob Smith (R-N.H.) calling for cockpit crews to be trained and armed, if the pilots want it and their airlines approve. So some similar language will almost certainly be in the bill that eventually reaches President Bush's desk. I think millions of security-minded, gun-owning passengers can convince the airlines to keep our business by allowing their pilots to be armed -- after all Federal Skymarshals will be on very few flights, but every flight has a pilot. The big difference between the two bills concerns whether the 28,000 or so baggage and people screeners at larger airports would all be Federal employees -- which the House narrowly rejected but the Senate unanimously supported. During the hot rhetoric over that issue there were constant pleadings by both sides for quick improvements in airport screening -- which may take years. If the President and Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta (who voted consistently against gun rights while he was a Democratic Congressman) they could prevent all boxcutter skyjackings within a week. There is a huge cross-over of interest between airplanes and guns; most people who fly also shoot, and many airline pilots have been through private firearms training programs as well as the U.S. military. The House and Senate support for armed pilots would not have occurred if not for the hard work of airline pilots like Capt. Steve Luckey, who chairs the ALPA National Security Committee; Capt. Paul Valone, head of the Safer Skies Coalition (www.RightsWatch.org) and Grass Roots North Carolina; and many other shooter/pilots. This battle is far from over, which is why I was pleased yesterday to talk with another airline captain who has set up a web page, Eric Mosley of www.armingpilots.com.
Because the nation is under lethal attack, and arming commercial airline pilots will unquestionably help make it safer, I've rethought my position on allowing law enforcement officers to be able to carry off-duty out of state. Since a vacationing cop's life and family are no more important than mine or yours, I've declined to support bills such as Rep. Randy Cunningham's H.R. 218 unless it again applies to licensed "civilian" carriers (amended out of the bill on the floor a couple of Congresses back). Also, the pressure of active and retired officers who want to carry out-of-state gives needed leverage to state reciprocity bills and Federal bills like Sen. Bob Smith's, Rep. John Hostettler's (R-Ind.) and Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) But my personal interest must come second to the country's, so "for the duration" I support H.R. 218 -- even though I know the country would be made even safer by national reciprocity for licensed carriers. But cop-carry could quickly be passed, while reciprocity for licensees won't happen any time soon (much less a national Vermont-style Second Amendment law).
The NRA Board has been meeting this week, and will tomorrow consider -- and probably pass -- a "statement of policy" reaffirming the NRA staff's endorsement of Rep. Don Young's (R- Alaska) Conservation and Restoration Act (CARA). A draft statement approved in joint executive session of the Hunting and Wildlife, and Legislative Policy committees, notes the controversy over the "land acquisition aspects" of the bill, and says "The NRA will not support, as a general principle, increased acquisitions of federal lands under CARA or any similar measure where such acquisitions do not provide increased hunting and shooting opportunities."
Gun Owners Action League held a firearms familiarization class at the Massachusetts State House -- and some of the most dedicated opponents of gun ownership showed up! The Boston Herald said the Sept. 11 attacks had created a new attitude on guns and gun ownership. "We're certainly all scared - it's a natural instinct to try and do whatever you can to protect yourself and your loved ones, especially in the face of unknown and un-measurable threats," Rep. Jay Kaufman said, indicating that he probably won't buy a gun but wouldn't rule out the possibility.
Wednesday, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley used the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to demand more prohibitive gun laws. He has a one-track mind; gun-banning is like a religion to him. Fortunately, as in Massachusetts, even devout anti-gunners are rethinking their position.
The off-year elections in Virginia and New Jersey Tuesday aren't looking good for gunowners. Though neither gubernatorial candidate -- Mark Earley and Brent Schundler, respectively -- is as strong for gun rights as I would like, both are head and shoulders over their Democrat opponents. Many of us had doubts about George W. Bush, too, but comparing what he and Attorney General John Ashcroft have done for us, to what "moderate Democrat" Bill Clinton and his attorney general, Janet Reno did to us, I urge you to get to the polls Tuesday to vote for Earley and Schundler. http://www.nealknox.com/alerts/msg00062.html