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by Pete Edwards

For two years in a row, Congress, as a part of Homeland Security's arming pilots against terrorism, has overwhelmingly passed legislation to allow commercial pilots to use firearms to protect their crews and passengers. But according to Alan Korwin author of Gun Laws of America, the

legislation is not about arming civilian pilots, its about deputizing the pilots and then arming the deputies.

On his website www. gunlaws.com, Korwin writes "The fundamental difference between arming a civilian pilot, and turning the civilian into a government agent as a deputy, is important for those who monitor the erosion of the Second Amendment. Arming civilians, or letting them arm themselves, is quite unacceptable to the government in the context of air travel. The deputizing scheme implemented here provides an alternative, maintaining the full control of those in power. No "right" is conferred, and the permission to bear arms can be summarily revoked by the authorities." "Pilots per se may

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not be armed. Only a Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) may be armed under the law."

The legislation also applies to commercial cargo pilots who are to be treated equitably in receiving access and training as FFDO.

Gun Owners of America, who support the arming of passenger and cargo pilots "remains concerned that the administration will work to limit the number of cargo pilots who can carry guns, just as it has impeded the number of eligible passenger pilots" said GOA communications Director Erich Pratt. "Unfortunately, this new law signed  by the President amounts to a hollow victory" Pratt said, "since the administration (Transportation Security Administration) is already doing everything it can to deter passenger pilots from applying for handgun certification."

Captain Tracy Price published an editorial in The Washington Times last week which detailed the extent to which the administration has dragged its feet in this area.

"One must remember that the administration (TSA) opposed this program from the very beginning," Pratt said. "When Congress passed legislation to arm pilots in 2001 -- just two months after 9-11 -- the administration refused to arm even one pilot. Thus, Congress had to pass additional legislation in 2002, ordering the executive branch to start arming pilots immediately."

"We are calling on President Bush to bring in TSA chief David Stone for some career counseling and order him to quicken the pace of certifying pilots" Pratt said. "Short of that, we ask President Bush to send Stone packing."

On the web:
www.gunowners.org

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