Thursday, 07/11/02

NYT:

On Wednesday, despite opposition from the Bush administration, the House voted 311 to 113 to pass a bill backed by the Air Line Pilots Association that would allow commercial pilots to be deputized as federal flight deck officers and carry guns during flights. The bill specified that guns were to be used only in the cockpit.

This is the stupidest bullshit I've ever heard. Why don't they tack on a clause saying the bullets are prohibited from passing through the hull and wrecking cabin pressure? Or that hijackers are not allowed to use the guns if they overpower the paunchy, distracted flight crew?

I can't decide whether to be more impressed with the woman who said, "At my age, [the idea of arming pilots] doesn't bother me at all" or the man who suggested that "If you're going to hijack a plane and you know the pilot has a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, wouldn't that deter you?" No, it wouldn't deter me. It would tell me I didn't have to bring along any silly-ass boxcutters. 09:22PM «

Bits pushed by Movable Type