Commercials Pilots and Guns

Five years after 9/11 and commercial pilots are still running into roadblocks regarding the common sense idea of allowing them to carry firearms in the cockpit.

Pilots disagree, saying the Transportation Security Administration, is discouraging them from signing up by requiring background and psychological checks, ordering pilots to carry guns in lockboxes and holding the training at a single remote site.

"We estimate 40,000 pilots would volunteer if it were properly managed by the TSA," said Capt. Bob Lambert, president of the Airline Pilots' Security Alliance, who was speaking at a Tuesday news conference. Pilots are trying to pressure the Bush administration to move ahead quickly with the training program.

To me it seems obvious that the TSA is trying to kill the program with red tape and bureaucracy.

The agency had opposed arming pilots, believing tighter airport security, bulletproof cockpit doors and more vigilant passengers made it unnecessary. Critics also said adding guns to airplanes was inherently dangerous.

But after it became obvious that Congress would support the program, TSA chief James Loy reluctantly went along.