Senator Rand Paul’s Plan to Prevent Another 9-11

We all know that common sense is assuredly uncommon in government. That’s why it gives me a modicum of hope to hear sensible things being said by someone who may be able to do something about them–and who may just have a good chance to become President of the United States of America.

Senator Rand Paul, son of retired Representative and noted liberty revivalist Ron Paul, has gone on record in favor of arming every commercial pilot to ensure the ability to defend against hijacking attempts

In part, Senator Paul said “I’m concerned about what is the most cost-effective way of preventing another 9-11: I want all pilots to be armed.” He added, “The president has zeroed this out of his budget. He’s advocated for getting rid of the program. And when I talk to pilots, I’m at airports all the time, pilots come up to me all the time and say it’s too hard to get a permit and to keep up the permit.”

The current program allowing certain flight crew members (which may be a pilot, navigator, or flight engineer) to carry firearms is called Federal Flight Deck Officers, and it’s under the auspices of TSA.

According to the TSA’s page on the program, “Federal Flight Deck Officers are trained by the Federal Air Marshal Service on the use of firearms, use of force, legal issues, defensive tactics, the psychology of survival, and program standard operating procedures. Flight crew members participating in the program are not eligible for compensation from the Federal Government for services provided as a Federal Flight Deck Officer.”

The current process, unsurprisingly, is restrictive and aggravating. Paul noted that applicants must attend five days in New Mexico. His proposed bill is intended to streamline the program, with the goal of arming every single pilot.

Seems like a good idea to me. What do you think?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/10/rand-paul-guns-pilots_n_5125967.html

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.