Date: 22 Sep 2001 09:32:58 -0400 From: belmonte@mit.edu (Matthew Belmonte) To: 9-awa-security@faa.gov Message-ID: <200109221332.JAA06776@mattababy.mit.edu> Subject: firearms for self-defence -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The arming of people on commercial flights should not be limited to Air Marshals. Flight and cabin crews should be offered firearms training, if they want it, and all crew members who successfully complete such training should be supplied with handguns and with pre-fragmented ammunition. (Stray fragments from such ammunition are extremely unlikely to penetrate aircraft skins.) In addition, passengers who possess valid concealed-carry permits and who are willing to abstain from alcohol during and immediately prior to the flight should be permitted to carry their guns on board, loaded with the same pre-fragmented ammunition. As was so amply demonstrated by the passengers of UAL 93, determined passengers can be the best counter to hijackers. *Reducing* passengers' ability to defend themselves, by preventing them from carrying even a pocket knife, is NOT the way to decrease the risk of hijacking. The recent terrorist hijackings likely would not have succeeded had even a few of the passengers or cabin crew been armed. Matthew Belmonte Cambridge, Massachusetts -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.0.6 (GNU/Linux) Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org iD8DBQE7rJKOg9RB0YE4T0wRAueqAJ0YmPavxLn9Guu5h+3MJeX3SzpVrQCeOMZF 3Wa50HY5VyQNAmj0kX3Xwa8= =Crtp -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----