3/05/02 Anti-gun Comments By Norman Mineta And Tom Ridge

GOA Blasts Ridge And Mineta For Their Anti-gun Comments
— Calls on President to take rogue officials to the woodshed

For Immediate Release
March 5, 2002
Contact: Andrew Said
703-321-8585

(Springfield, VA) — Gun Owners of America today called on President Bush to take two of his rogue officials to the political woodshed for their anti-gun comments made over the past several days.

“Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge have both made outrageous remarks within the last week,” said GOA Communications Director Erich Pratt.

“Both men have shown their contempt for the Second Amendment and for legislation signed into law by President Bush last year.”

Recently, Secretary Mineta and Director Ridge both expressed their personal opposition to the armed pilots law that allows airline captains to protect their crews and passengers.

“Government officials are not supposed to elevate their personal opinions over laws that are consistent with the Second Amendment to the Constitution,” Pratt said.

“Mineta and Ridge both favor the use of stun guns instead of real guns. What a joke! These ‘toy guns’ are useless against multiple attackers or attackers armed with guns or knives.

“Look, millions of dollars have been spent on airline security equipment, and yet people continue to sneak guns and knives onboard planes. Stun guns are not going to prevent another September 11 tragedy, and that’s why a majority of pilots and American citizens support the idea of pilots carrying REAL guns,” Pratt said.

“Polls show that more than three-fourths of the American public support arming pilots with real guns, including an astounding 77 percent of those who otherwise support gun control,” said Pratt. “Likewise, a February survey of the Air Line Pilots Association members found that 73 percent of pilots favor carrying firearms on board planes.”

Erich Pratt is the Director of Communications for Gun Owners of America, a national gun lobby with over 300,000 members located at 8001 Forbes Place, Springfield, VA 22151.

Erich Pratt is available for press interviews.

— GOA —