<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= 7765">http://www=2Eworldnetdaily=2Ecom/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D27= 765</a><br><br>Wednesday, May 29,= 2002<br>--------------------------------------------------------= ----------<br>FAA began 'disarming' pilots in '87<br>By Jon= Dougherty<br>---------------------------------------------------= ---------------<br><br><font size=3D1>Posted: May 29, 2002<br>1:00= a=2Em=2E Eastern<br><br></font><P>As early as 1987, the Federal= Aviation Administration adopted a rule ensuring that commercial= pilots could not board planes with guns, despite existing= regulations that permitted pilots, under certain conditions, to= be armed, according to an industry group=2E <P>The <a href=3D"http://www=2Esecure-skies=2Eorg";>Airline Pilots'= Security Alliance</a>, or APSA, said in an e-mail memo sent to= members last week that the FAA began "disarming pilots" more= than 15 years ago by requiring them "to pass through screening= checkpoints" after "a suicidal attacker broke into the cockpit= of an airliner, murdered the pilots and crashed the airplane=2E" <P>The screening process was enacted and enforced despite a= 1960s-era FAA rule already on the books that permitted pilots to= be armed as long as participating airlines adopted an= agency-approved training program=2E <P>Additionally, the pilot-screening process was continued by the= FAA throughout the latter 1990s and beyond, even as the agency= was receiving intelligence information from government= counterterrorism experts claiming that U=2ES=2E airlines were at= increased risk of terrorist hijackings=2E <P>As <a href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D27647">WorldNetDaily= reported earlier this month,</a> FAA officials have admitted= rescinding the armed-pilot rule =96 initiated in response to the= 1961 Cuban missile crisis =96 in July 2001, just two months before= the Sept=2E 11 hijackings=2E <P>In a separate story, <a= href=3D"/news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D27672">WND reported that the= FAA nixed the rule despite being briefed by the government's top= counterterrorism expert the very same month</a> that terrorist= hijackings could be on the horizon=2E <P>The APSA memo claimed that the process to rescind the rule= began in July 2001 and was scheduled to take effect in September= =96 around the time of the hijackings that saw terrorists= commandeer flight decks and fly fully fueled airliners into both= World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon=2E <P>But John Mazor, a spokesman for the <a= href=3D"http://www=2Ealpa=2Eorg";>Air Line Pilots Association</a>, told= WND the FAA directive rescinding the armed-pilot rule was issued= July 17, 2001 and took effect much later =96 on Nov=2E 14, 2001=2E <P>That means the FAA was not only actively working to prohibit= pilots from carrying weapons despite increased hijacking risks= to the airlines, but agency officials also consciously rescinded= the only regulation that might have protected flight crews= against terrorist hijackers=2E <P>When contacted for comment, FAA officials referred all= questions surrounding the July 2001 intelligence briefings and= the decision to rescind the armed-pilot rule to the agency's = parent bureau, the Department of Transportation=2E But, as in the= past, DOT officials refused to return repeated phone calls= seeking explanation=2E <P>Meanwhile, Transportation Security Administration Under= Secretary John Magaw yesterday said in testimony before the= Senate Commerce Committee he would not implement a provision of= law passed last fall that allows airline pilots to be armed=2E <P>The TSA chief gave no reason for his decision, but said a= formal announcement would be made later this week=2E= Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and Homeland Security= Director Tom Ridge also have expressed opposition to arming= pilots=2E <P>Magaw's testimony yesterday echoes similar statements made= last week, when he told a separate Senate panel he would not= allow pilots to be armed because he believes they should focus= on "flying the plane=2E" <P>Airline industry groups that have supported the armed-pilot= concept were quick to respond to Magaw's decision=2E <P>"We are disappointed, but not surprised, by this announcement=2E= The administration, under the influence of opposition by the= airlines, has been telegraphing its intent for several months= now," said Capt=2E Duane Woerth, president of ALPA=2E <P>"The government already has told us that if terrorists take= control of one of our cockpits, they will send military aircraft= to shoot down the airliner and all its crew and passengers,"= Woerth said=2E "In the face of such choices, we do not understand= why these same government officials refuse to give pilots a last= chance to prevent such a tragedy=2E" <P>Under an airline security bill passed in the wake of Sept=2E 11,= Magaw, as head of the TSA, was given discretion over whether to= implement a provision of the measure allowing pilots to be= armed, as long as airlines approved=2E <P>Gary Burns, a spokesman for Rep=2E John Mica, R-Fla=2E, said his= boss "disagrees wholeheartedly" with Magaw's decision, but he= pointed out that Magaw has also stated that "if Congress would= pass [armed pilot] legislation, he would 'salute and enforce= it=2E'" <P>"We intend to move forward with that legislation," said Burns,= noting that its progress has been temporarily postponed in= deference to Democrats on the House committee so that they may= try to work out some disagreements=2E <P>Mica, chairman of the House Transportation Committee's= aviation subcommittee, has co-sponsored legislation with the= full committee's chairman, Rep=2E Don Young, R-Alaska, that would= allow airline pilots be armed=2E <P>Despite his public pronouncements, a congressional aide told= WND yesterday that Mineta, in private talks last week, has= assured key lawmakers he too would "vigorously" enforce any new= law that specifically called for arming pilots, should Congress= and President Bush approve one=2E <P>Related stories: <P><a href=3D" /news/article=2Easp?ARTICLE_ID=3D27729">What if gunless= pilots went on strike?</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 the Second Amendment</a><br> <P>=A9 2002 </P><br><hr noshade size=3D"1" width=3D"16%= "><br><P><i><A HREF=3D"mailto:jdougherty@worldnetdaily=2Ecom";>Jon E=2E= Dougherty</A> is a staff reporter and columnist for= WorldNetDaily, and author of the special report, <a= href=3D"http://www=2Eshopnetdaily=2Ecom/store/item=2Easp?DEPARTMENT_ID=3D1= 0&SUBDEPARTMENT_ID=3D35&DROPSHIP_ID=3D44&ITEM_ID=3D19">"Election 2000:= How the Military Vote Was= Suppressed=2E"</a></i></p><br><br>--------------------------------= ----------------------------------