Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 16:14:57 -0400
To: Matthew Gaylor <freematt@coil.com>
From: Matthew Gaylor <freematt@coil.com>
Subject: Senator Smith Introduces Bill Allowing Pilots to Carry Guns
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

Date: Wed, 26  Sep  2001 15:46:48 -0400
From: Gun_Owners_of_America@mailmanager.net
Subject: More Action on Arming Pilots

Senator Smith Introduces Bill Allowing Pilots to Carry Guns
   -- Please contact your two senators and ask them to cosponsor bill

Gun Owners of America E-Mail/FAX Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org


ACTION:  Please contact your two senators and ask them to cosponsor
Sen. Bob Smith's legislation, S. 1463.  Do not accept a
non-committal reply.  Demand to know whether your senators will
cosponsor the bill.  Call 202-224-3121 -- to identify your senators,
as well as to send a pre-written message via e-mail, see the
Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm
on the GOA website.


(Wednesday, September 26, 2001) -- It appears that the crusade for
concealed carry is gaining momentum -- especially as it applies to
pilots.  Here's what has happened in the last two weeks:

   * Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced H.R. 2896 to let pilots carry
   guns on airplanes for the purpose of defending not only the lives
   of their passengers, but other innocent civilians as well.

   * Pilots, en masse, are speaking out in favor of this legislation.

   * The Air Line Pilots Association has even petitioned Congress,
   asking the legislature to let pilots carry guns.

   * Web polls, such as one conducted by CNN with over 100,000 votes,
   are finding that the overwhelming majority of the public (72%)
   favors arming pilots.

And now, Senator Bob Smith (R-NH) has introduced S. 1463 to
accompany the Paul legislation.  Similar to the House bill, the
language of S. 1463 is sufficiently flexible so that it would
overturn the current FAA regulation encouraging airlines to veto
firearms for pilots.  In addition, it would preempt a rumored FAA
regulation which would absolutely outlaw firearms in the hands of
pilots.

Sen. Smith is prepared to force a vote on his language as soon as
the number and range of Senate cosponsors suggest that the language
would prevail in a Senate vote.  Therefore, it is imperative that
we get a massive number of cosponsors on this bill.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO PILOTS:  Your role is critical in this battle.
Please make sure that you contact your two senators and that you ask
your fellow pilots to do the same.  If possible, arrange for a
meeting with your senators so that you and a couple of other pilots
can meet with them.


DEBUNKING THE MYTHS OF GUNS ON PLANES

One objection that Senate offices may throw at you is this supposed
idea that a bullet hole in an airplane's hull can cause catastrophic
depressurization or cause the ship to crash.  First, one should note
that such an argument against pilots carrying guns would also apply
to Federal Air Marshals.  But the fact is, pre-fragmented ammo can
minimize the supposed risks of a bullet puncturing a plane's hull.

Having said that, writer David Kopel (along with author and pilot,
Captain David Petteys) notes that the risks related to the hull
being punctured are greatly exaggerated.  In a recent National
Review Online article dated September 16, they state, "There is only
one known instance in which a bullet hole in an aircraft frame
yanked objects across the plane, expanded, and sucked a person out
into the sky.  That was the James Bond movie Goldfinger.  The movie
was not intended to teach real-life lessons about physics." (Go to
http://www.nationalreview.com/kopel/kopel091401.shtml to read the
entire article.)

Aircraft engineers have likewise downplayed the ability of a few
bullets to depressurize a plane.  "If one round, or two or three for
that matter pierce the skin [of a plane]," says Dan Todd, a licensed
aircraft engineer for 20 years, "it's not necessarily catastrophic."
Todd says that in such a case, "air will go whistling out the hole,
and the outflow valve will close a little further to maintain the
desired cabin pressure."  Another engineer notes that "a Boeing 747
can lose five cabin windows and maintain cabin pressure." (Go to
https://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=2474
for articles dispelling myths relating to guns & planes.)

If you are not currently receiving the full GOA membership benefits
(such as The Gun Owners newsletter in the mail), go to
http://www.gunowners.org/ordergoamem.htm on the web to sign up; or
call toll-free at 1-888-886-GUNS.  GOA's upcoming newsletter will be
a SPECIAL ISSUE entirely devoted to this month's bombing, and will
include some of the best commentary on the myths and realities of
allowing guns on planes.



----- Pre-written letter -----


Dear Senator:

Senator Bob Smith has introduced one of the most important bills
this Congress.  S. 1463 will help drive a stake into the heart of
terrorism by virtually guaranteeing that no American airplane will
ever be skyjacked again.

S. 1463 will allow pilots to carry guns onto a plane, and thus,
allow them to not only protect the lives of their passengers, but
the lives of other innocent civilians as well.

I urge you to cosponsor this legislation right away.

At a time when Americans are fearful of flying and the airlines are
laying off workers by the thousands; at a time when the economic
aftershocks of the September 11 skyjackings are still reverberating
on Wall Street; it is high time to ensure the absolute safety of
airline passengers.

Please don't believe those fear-mongers who would peddle the
Hollywood myth that a bullet hole in a plane's hull can cause
catastrophic depressurization or force the aircraft to crash.  That
is science fiction.  Think about all the military planes that, in
the midst of battle, have been riddled with dozens of bullets and
continued flying -- only to land safely miles away.

As noted by author David Kopel and pilot Captain Petteys:  "There is
only one known instance in which a bullet hole in an aircraft frame
yanked objects across the plane, expanded, and sucked a person out
into the sky.  That was the James Bond movie Goldfinger.  The movie
was not intended to teach real-life lessons about physics."

Kopel also quotes retired Air Force General James Chambers who
points out that "the Air Force has plenty of pressurized planes,
such as AWACS, which are able to sustain penetration/damage from
bullets from enemy fighter jet machine guns."

It is imperative that America not continue its current policy of
making airplanes into gun free zones.  America is rejecting this
idea.  The Air Line Pilots Association supports arming pilots.
According to a CNN web poll, 72% of the American public supports
arming pilots.

The Smith legislation may be the most important bill you cosponsor
this year.  Again, I urge you to sign on to S. 1463.  Gun Owners of
America will keep me abreast as to who is signing on to this bill.
Thank you.

Sincerely,


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