Legalizing guns on airplanes?

[michaelbane]

I still want to be be armed while flying.

I just won't fly unless they change the law to allow law-abiding citizens to carry weapons on planes. Also trains, buses and ships, for that matter. See my new thread started on 8/22/05. I live in the Philadelphia, PA area. Anybody interested in meeting to form a new political organization to try to get these laws changed? Some of the airlines are already in bankruptcy. Let's boycott them on this issue and put one more nail in their coffins.

 

[CAPTAIN MIKE]

I'm Not Holding My Breath

Given the closed environment, nervous passengers, history of misuse of firearms related to aircraft, terrorist threats, it is unlikely we'll see it. By contrast, El Al the Israeli airlines never flies without at least one if not two Sky Marshals aboard. The U.S. picture in that regard falls short.

 

[del4]

Armed passengers are great! How would you keep the terrorists from flying with explosives? It's not like they have never planted bombs on airliners before. It would be EASIER for them to bring down the armed pax plane because there is NO screening. Just check a bag in with HK Airlines and leave.

Richard Reed (shoe bomber) would have blown a hole in the aircraft before anyone caught on if he hadn't been an idiot. His shoe was supposed to have been detonated by impact, not the mil. safety fuse he was playing with.

Btw, they caught some kid (23yo) w/ a bomb in his bag (Norman, Ok.) Thurs. or Fri. Gotta find the link.

I wouldn't get on a plane armed or not if no one was even making an attempt to check for bombs. Bombs are their main MO.

 

[Zone Five]

Some of the airlines are already in bankruptcy. Let's boycott them on this issue and put one more nail in their coffins

How are you going to boycott when you already stated that you don't fly?

Airlines are carrying more passengers than ever, they aren't profitable due to fuel and debt costs. An economic boycott over guns isn't going to get one second of coverage, or have on iota of an impact due to our anti gun media.

There are a lot of people "refusing to fly" who rarely flew in the past. Refusing to fly even more forcefully isn't going to accomplish anything.

Really.

 

[GEM]

I won't fly - blah, blah. Nice to say if you have no life. The rest of us have to get places in the country. Until Scotty beams me up, I have to fly. Give me a break.

 

[DRZinn]

Armed passengers are great! How would you keep the terrorists from flying with explosives? It's not like they have never planted bombs on airliners before. It would be EASIER for them to bring down the armed pax plane because there is NO screening. Just check a bag in with HK Airlines and leave.

Did anyone advocate not checking for explosives? Just checking.

 

[michaelbane]

Responding to Zone Five and GEM

First, for Zone Five, I decided not to fly because I believe in this issue. If we make a public statement that this is one more reason why we don't want to fly, it has the possibilty, however small, of bringing this issue some publicity. And it can't hurt to have another reason to avoid flying.

As for GEM, consider this. Last October, I put my money where my mouth is - literally. I spent 2 1/2 weeks travelling by car on a trip to a prestigious firearms training school. I planned the trip specifically to go through states where it was legal for me to carry concealed. In addition to seeing this great nation of ours, I helped the local economies of various communities by spending money on meals and lodging. I could have easily flown, saving lots of money and time. But I chose to act out of principle. And I had a great time doing it. If sacrificing your rights for convenience is your definition of having a life, that's your choice. Just don't criticize me.

 

[Zone Five]

MB,

That's cool. I enjoy driving as well, an interesting way to see the country. Flying is cheaper, safer, and enjoyable as well. Going thru security is not that big of a deal.

I would add that your angst against airlines is misplaced. The FEDERAL GOVERNMENT runs the TSA and dictates everything that transpires with respect to the security proceedures that have you upset.

Boycott the Federal Government, the airlines hate what is happening, know that it is less than effective, and is chasing away customers.

 

[michaelbane]

Thanks, Zone Five

Thanks for the feedback. My idea is that if a boycott is sucessful, it could pressure the airlines to lobby the Federal Government to change. That would make the case more credible. Also, anyone who flies pays an additional surcharge (read: tax) that goes to fund the TSA. If you don't buy the ticket, the TSA doesn't get your money. I feel that paying for the privilege of being disrespected by the government in this way is adding insult to injury. :banghead:

 

[Dr.Who]

Here's a wild idea.

Everyone who gets on the plane gets screened. Then as they board the plane they all get a one shot gun. If a terrorist try’s to do something with one bullet, there are 100 plus guns pointed his way.... Being armed would reinforce peace... Gee where have we heard that before....? Hmmmm One Vote, One Bullet....

As for the bomb's, the screening and Dogs would need to take care of that. Have the dogs go over the plane prior to departure prior to passenger's boarding...

 

[gulogulo1970]

I'm for baseball bats myself. Really hard to have an AD or a ND with a bat.

Come on, we have all seen bad gun handling at gunshows, gun ranges, etc. So, let's give guns to all of the flying public, yeah right...

 

[enfield]

Personally, I'm never going to fly again until all of the inmates (TSA) are back in the asylum. Haven't flown since 2000 and don't know if I ever will again. I've been to Wisconsin twice, Virginia once and California 4 times by car. Kinda enjoyed it, compared to being mauled by a pervert.

 

[Zone Five]

I feel that paying for the privilege of being disrespected by the government in this way is adding insult to injury.

My we assume that you don't possess a driver's license then? There is no more demeaning entity that your State Department of Motor Vehicles.

Protesting the government's poor treatment of the citizenry will be a full time job for you...

 

[michaelbane]

DMV yes, TSA no

I don't feel demeaned by having to get a driver's license to drive, just like I got my CCW license to carry (Vermont style CCW would be ideal, though). The DMV can just be incompetent sometimes! I used to work for the US government, so I have an idea of how bureaucracy works. There's a need for some government regulation of things. Just that in my opinion, law abiding citizens with weapons on planes isn't one of them.