Armed Pilots Amendment Could Be In Trouble

— Urge key legislators to save this important provision

Thanks to your help, a provision to arm the nation’s pilots has passed both Houses of Congress. But your help is needed once again.

GOA Members and Activists Have Changed the Momentum

From the very beginning, we knew that getting guns into airline cockpits was clearly going to be an uphill battle. The usual anti-gun nuts in the Congress were likely to oppose it. And the largest airline pilots association was also against the idea initially.

But after mobilizing tens of thousands of gun owners and pilots around the country, GOA supporters began to see the momentum change. ALPA (the Air Line Pilots Association) made a 180-degree turn when it announced in September that it would support legislation to arm pilots. And even some of the usual gun control advocates in Congress warmed up to the idea after receiving an outpouring of support for the idea from thousands of gun owners and pilots — many of whom were GOA members.

Anti-gun Senator Barbara Boxer surprised many onlookers in October when she spoke on the Senate floor in favor of the Smith amendment arming pilots. In the end, the pilot’s amendment passed the Senate by unanimous consent — not one Senator was willing to object — and passed the House as part of the aviation security bill on November 1.

Many Anti-gun Conferees are Picked; Armed Pilots Provision Could be in Trouble

This week, Congressional leaders picked House and Senate conferees who will now begin ironing out the differences between the two versions of the Aviation Security Act. After seeing the list of names, it is not certain how the “armed pilots” provision will fare. The committee is almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, and some of the anti-gun Republicans could very well vote with the other side. That’s why your help is needed once again.

ACTION ITEMS: Please use the pre-written letters below to contact your Representative and Senators. There are two different letters, so choose the appropriate one (which will depend on whether your particular congressman is a member of the conference committee). You can call them at 202-224-3121. To identify your Representative, as well as to send a message via e-mail, see the Legislative Action Center at http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm on the GOA website.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS for the AVIATION SECURITY ACT

— Use the first letter below to contact these congressmen —

SENATE: John Breaux (D-LA), Conrad Burns (R-MT), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC), Tim Hutchison (R-AR), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), John Kerry (D-MA), Trent Lott (R-MS), John McCain (R-AZ), John Rockefeller (D-WV), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Ted Stevens (R-AK), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

HOUSE: Peter DeFazio (D-OR), John Duncan (R-TN), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), William Lipinski (D-IL), John Mica (R-FL), James Oberstar (D-MN), Thomas Petri (R-WI), and Don Young (R-AK).

— Use this letter for Representatives and Senators listed above —

Dear

I was glad to see that both the House and Senate included provisions to arm pilots in the aviation security bill. The “armed pilots” language will do more to secure the safety of passengers from the threat of terrorism than any of the other provisions in the act. I hope that, as a member of the conference committee, you will fight to keep this language in the conference report.

As you know, there are slight differences in the two versions — especially with regard to the program that will allow pilots to be armed. Please make sure that whatever language emerges from conference does not allow the FAA to use its discretion to block implementation of this program. Only the pilots should be allowed to exercise discretion, as they should be free to choose how best to defend their crew and passengers.

Again, please do everything you can to ensure there is a strong provision to let pilots arm themselves, not only for their own safety, but also for the safety of countless others. Thank you.

Sincerely,

—– Use this letter for Reps. and Senators NOT listed above —–

Dear

I was glad to see that both the House and Senate included provisions to arm pilots in the aviation security bill. The “armed pilots” language will do more to secure the safety of passengers from the threat of terrorism than any of the other provisions in the act.

I hope that you will urge the members of the conference committee to fight to keep this language in the bill.

As you know, there are slight differences in the two versions — especially with regard to the program that will allow pilots to be armed. Please use your influence to make sure that whatever language emerges from conference does not allow the FAA to use its discretion to block implementation of this program. Only the pilots should be allowed to exercise discretion, as they should be free to choose how best to defend their crew and passengers.

Again, please do everything you can to ensure there is a strong provision to let pilots arm themselves, not only for their own safety, but also for the safety of countless others. Thank you.

Sincerely,