-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 List, I have read with some degree of interest the discussion about arming pilots. I agree that pilots should not be prohibited from defending the airplane, crew, and passengers. There are several points that have not been made that I'd like to make at this point. 1: The issue of arming pilots v.s. having marshals on board are two separate and independent issues. All the discussion to date would lead a person to believe that you could only have one or the other. The best solution would be to have both. While I wholeheartedly support the armed pilot option, the objection stands that we really cannot do a fantastic job of defending the aircraft against terrorists. Though we could be a last line of defense, I don't think we should be the only line of defense. 2: The arguments about going postal/school yard/etc. are actually arguments in favor of arming pilots. For some reason, the people using those arguments neglect to mention that every one of those places (the post office, schools, etc.) restrict the possession of firearms. You don't find too many examples of successful shootings in known firearm-rich environments. 3: The discussion has revolved around each of our ideas as to how best secure an airliner. Not surprisingly, we have ideas that range from fly-nekkid to arm the *passengers*. If the government is in charge of security, only one of those ideas will be implemented, even though we each know our idea is best. The real solution to the problem is to eliminate government involvement in the aviation industry altogether. Competition between the airlines will allow us the freedom to choose the airline that provides the level and style of safety and security we demand. Government restricts our freedom to choose, irritates us at checkpoints, costs us lots of money, and can't be fired because there's no competition. Though I enjoy talking about my favorite security scheme (yes, I do actually have one), I think it would be most productive for each of us to lobby for the separation of aviation and state. If successful, the result would be increased choice, reduced irritation, a better value and total control over how the job gets done through competition. In other words, if you don't like the way Brand X does it, ride someone else. Hope y'all are well. <shameless plug> I *am* still running for congress, so spot me a $20 and I'll send you a t-shirt. To donate or read my aviation security article, go to: http://varrin.com </shameless plug> Ta ta... V- ================================================================== Varrin Swearingen ICQ#16241843 varrin@sugargroup.net Congressional Candidate, CA District 20 http://varrin.com MD-11 First Officer World Airways Drums & Percussion Audio Engineering ================================================================== -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: PGP 7.0.4 -- QDPGP 2.68 Comment: http://community.wow.net/grt/qdpgp.html iQA/AwUBPO7GRLclzhUT8c2iEQJPhwCg8hLc1v7ujWwsc/ayJG2/AANy1YcAnith xkoLO+zYdYBoyToM5iWrvToy =Q88X -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----