This should come as no surprise. When Congress passed legislation authorizing the administration to arm pilots in November 2001, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta refused.

Thus, Congress had to pass additional legislation last year MANDATING that the Transportation Department move forward on arming pilots.

But now the TSA, which is an agency of the Transportation Department, is still doing all it can to kill the program, even while it goes through the motions of implementing the law.

While the official TSA regulations have yet to be issued, pilots in the Airline Pilot’s Security Alliance report that the TSA is leaning towards the following draconian impositions:

1. Intense psychological testing. If pilots were not psychologically fit already, then why are they flying planes? Pilots already undergo psychological screening. They don’t need additional testing. These additional interrogations are simply an underhanded way to discourage pilots from applying to carry firearms.

And you can be sure that these psych tests will only be a first step. After all, if they are going to be imposed upon pilots, who are some of the brightest and well-adjusted people in the country, imagine the kind of tests that the rest of us might eventually have to undergo.

2. Veto power given to commercial airlines. In direct violation of the law, the TSA will ask commercial airlines to first give permission before any of their pilots can carry concealed. Considering the fact that most commercial airlines have come out publicly AGAINST arming pilots, this ensures this program will never get off the ground — in defiance of the will of Congress and the American people who overwhelmingly support this program.

3. Refusal to let pilots carry their guns on their persons. TSA officials reportedly want pilots to keep their guns unloaded and in a lock box, rather than on their persons. Of course, this puts a huge “steal me” sign on every pilot’s luggage. Criminals will know that whenever they see a pilot in uniform, he will be defenseless against any attempts to attack him or steal his luggage. The solution that makes the most sense — and the solution which the pilots want — is to carry the firearms on their persons.

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO:

—– Pre-written message to the President —–

Dear President Bush:

Last year, you signed legislation that was overwhelmingly passed by Congress to mandate that the Transportation Security Administration set up a program to put armed pilots in the air.

This is an idea which not only makes perfect sense, it has garnered enormous support among the American people. But now the TSA, which is charged with implementing the program, is doing everything it can to undermine the process.

The pilots who are close to this process are outraged. The Washington Post quoted Captain Tracy Price, who is the Chairman of the Airline Pilot’s Security Alliance, as saying, “[The TSA] is requiring us to jump through so many hoops so that we can’t meet the requirements.”

I think this is reprehensible, and I hope that you will rein in the TSA and order those officials to implement a program that gets the support of the nation’s pilots. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

—– Pre-written message to Congress —–

Dear

As you know, Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation last year to mandate that the Transportation Security Administration set up a program to put armed pilots in the air.

This is an idea which not only makes perfect sense, it has garnered enormous support among the American people. But now the TSA, which is charged with implementing the program, is doing everything it can to undermine the process.

The pilots who are close to this process are outraged. The Washington Post quoted Captain Tracy Price, who is the Chairman of the Airline Pilot’s Security Alliance, as saying, “[The TSA] is requiring us to jump through so many hoops so that we can’t meet the requirements.”

I think this is reprehensible, and I hope that you will use your position as a legislator in the U.S. Congress to rein in the TSA, so it will implement a program that gets the support of the nation’s pilots. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

****************************

GOA has started an area on its website — http://www.gunowners.org/adpage.htm — for companies to take out advertisements. These ads are tax deductible for the business as a normal advertising expense and they give them exposure to thousands of visitors each day.

We encourage you to visit that section and support those businesses that are supporting GOA. Also, if you have a business of your own, or know of a business or foundation that might be interested in supporting GOA with their advertising dollars, you can use the e-mail address [email protected] to get more information. You could also call Marty Ohlson at 920-625-3975.