On Wednesday, a bill that would potentially allow more than 70,000 airline pilots to carry guns in the cockpit was passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. House of Representatives. Lawmakers who favored the bill even amended it to exclude restrictions created by the House Transportation Committee that would arm only a fraction of pilots. But even with such strong support from the House, the bill has strong opposition both from the Senate, where it will be voted on next, and from the White House, according to The Associated Press. While arming pilots is one possible solution to answering the terrorist threat, there are other reasonable alternatives that should be explored first. Giving pilots guns raises a slew of worries -- the pilots must exit the cockpit to use their weapons, unless the cockpit door is beaten down. Pilots would have to receive adequate training to have the proper judgment and skills to use their weapons. Weapons could be used against the crew and in the event a firearm is fired aboard an airplane, there is a chance that the cabin could be depressurized. To date, the Federal Aviation Administration and the newly-formed Transportation Security Administration have been working on solutions that are far more viable and safe for passengers. Immediately following the Sept. 11 hijackings, the FAA ordered that cockpit doors be fortified against forced entry. President George W. Bush has supported placing Federal Air Marshals aboard flights, whose sole concern would be the security of the plane. The FAA's edict to fortify cockpit doors is the most logical of any of the safety improvements, but many FAA and airline officials worry that the doors cannot be fortified enough to keep out a determined hijacker or group of hijackers. In November, the FAA struck down a proposal from United Airlines that would have given pilots stun guns capable of shooting, and knocking out, an attacker up to 20 feet away. Even this alternative is better than giving pilots lethal force, and the chance of depressurizing the cabin is removed. Although stun guns are a reasonable alternative to firearms, the best solution is to fortify cockpit doors and let federal air marshals and flight attendant crews (who recently have begun to receive more security training) worry about the safety of the plane. Pilots and co-pilots are better left worrying about flying the plane than gunning down suspected terrorists. Pilots are already working for the safety of the passengers by successfully completing thousands of flights every day.
yes - no - abstain
