<font size=3D2 face=3Darial>You have been sent this message from= david ross<br>(damiross@attbi=2Ecom) as a courtesy of= WorldNetDaily=2Ecom (<a= href=3D"http://www=2Eworldnetdaily=2Ecom";>http://www=2Eworldnetdaily=2Ecom= </a>)=2E<br><br><br><br>To view the entire article, visit <a= href=3D"http://www=2Eworldnetdaily=2Ecom/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D2= 7729">http://www=2Eworldnetdaily=2Ecom/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D27= 729</a><br><br>Friday, May 24,= 2002<br>--------------------------------------------------------= ----------<br>What if gunless pilots<br>went on strike?<br>By= Mandi= Steele<br>------------------------------------------------------= ------------<br><br><font size=3D1>Posted: May 24, 2002<br>1:00= a=2Em=2E Eastern<br><br></font><P>A leader of the Airline Pilots'= Security Alliance says he personally opposes a strike to force= the government to allow firearms in the cockpits, but he has= heard rumblings about the possibility from others=2E <P>The group yesterday held a joint press conference with Sen=2E= Bob Smith, R-N=2EH=2E, in support of legislation he introduced to= mandate that the government allow pilots to carry guns=2E The= introduction of the bill came two days after the testimony of= John Magaw, head of the Transportation Security Administration,= who told the Senate he would oppose arming pilots=2E Magaw said= he and the airline industry do not believe firearms in the= cockpits are necessary to prevent terrorism=2E Instead, he said he= is considering the use of non-lethal weapons and believes new= regulations requiring fortified cockpit doors have made air= travel safer since Sept=2E 11=2E <P>Magaw said he believes arming pilots may result in more danger= to passengers and crew=2E He wants pilots to focus solely on= flying the plane=2E <P>Meanwhile, the Airline Pilots' Security Alliance strongly= supports Smith's bill=2E Bob Lambert, board member of APSA, said= the fortified doors between the cockpit and the rest of the= plane are only a "temporary fix=2E" Any door can eventually be= penetrated, he said=2E He believes pilots ought to have the right= to carry firearms on top of safety measures the airlines suggest= for a "multi-layer effect" toward safety=2E <P>Lambert pointed out that during the Cuban missile crisis era,= pilots were allowed to carry firearms, and those policies did= not result in increased danger to passengers and crew=2E <P>"This legislation will fix what is broken with the existing= law that authorizes arming pilots," said APSA Chairman Tracy W=2E= Price=2E "The Bush administration has caved to pressure =85 and is= refusing to do the will of the Congress and the American people=2E= Sen=2E Smith's bill =96 and a very similar bill introduced in the= House by Congressmen Mica and Young =96 will mandate the program,= forcing the administration and the airlines to do the sensible= thing: arm airline pilots with firearms to offer a last resort,= final line of defense against the terrorist threat=2E" <P>Polls conducted on the subject reveal an overwhelming support= by Americans for the arming of pilots=2E According to APSA, 77= percent of even those who support gun control still agree that= pilots should be allowed to carry firearms=2E <P>Smith's bill includes language that would provide for= defensive training for flight attendants as well as discreet= systems for them to communicate with the cockpit=2E The bill also= includes a study of non-lethal weapons for flight attendants to= use in the passenger cabin=2E <P>"We have always advocated a multi-layered system," said Price,= "and these provisions in the Smith bill are well-considered and= appropriate=2E" <P>APSA believes both the House and the Senate will pass Smith's= bill=2E As for support from the White House, Lambert said, "We're= convinced President Bush will sign it=2E" <P>The pilots' organization is working closely with Smith to get= the bill passed=2E As far as taking matters into their own hands= and refusing to fly unless pilots are allowed to be armed,= Lambert said, he personally does not support a strike, and APSA= does not sanction a strike either=2E Although he said, "I've= heard people taking about it=2E" <P>Related stories: <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D27672">Armed-pilot rule= nixed after hijack briefing</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D27647">Armed pilots= banned 2 months before 9-11</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D27649">Bill addresses= liability of armed pilots</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D27492">20,000 pilots= demand firearms in cockpits</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D27198">Pilots' group= petitions to arm air crews</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D27102">Pilot groups= unified on arming air crews</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D26873">Senator calls for= arming pilots</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D26709">Ridge comment on= arming pilots out of step</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D26422">Pilots' group= wants crews to be armed</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D26147">Expert: 'No= substitute' for firearms on aircraft</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D26061">FAA seeks input= on arming pilots</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D24597">Bill would ensure= pilots' right to be armed</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D24809">Reform Party:= Pilots should be armed</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D24673">Boot camp for= pilots?</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D24558">Pilots offered= free firearms training</a> <P><a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D24549">Captains to FAA:= Focus on cockpits</a> <P><b>Related Special Offers:</b> <P>'The 7 Myths of Gun Control'<BR><A= HREF=3D"http://www=2Eshopnetdaily=2Ecom/store/item=2Easp?ITEM_ID=3D165";>Ge= t the ultimate answer book on Second Amendment rights</A> <P>'On the Firing Line'<br><a= href=3D"http://www=2Eshopnetdaily=2Ecom/store/item=2Easp?DEPARTMENT_ID=3D6= &SUBDEPARTMENT_ID=3D23&ITEM_ID=3D422">Larry Pratt's provocative= analysis of 2nd Amendment</a><br> <P>=A9 2002 </P><br><hr noshade size=3D"1" width=3D"16%= "><br><P><i><a href=3D"mailto:intern@worldnetdaily=2Ecom";>Mandi= Steele</a> is an editorial intern for= WorldNetDaily=2Ecom=2E</i></p><br><br>------------------------------= ------------------------------------