— Ask your Representative to sign the Hostettler-Young Petition

Representatives John Hostettler (R-IN) and Don Young (R-AK) need your help. They are petitioning Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta to begin implementing the new law which President Bush signed on November 19 allowing pilots to possess firearms for the protection of passengers and crew.

As GOA mentioned in its alert last month, there are certain guidelines which the Secretary (and a still-to-be-named Under Secretary of Transportation) must implement before commercial pilots can begin the important task of protecting their planes.

Representatives Hostettler and Young are now getting other legislators to cosign a letter addressed to Secretary Mineta.

“Both houses of Congress, as well as the Airline Pilots Association, have demonstrated overwhelming support for providing pilots the privilege of protecting their passengers and crew from dangerous threats by responsible means, including the use of firearms,” their letter says.

“Accordingly, we hope that you and the new Under Secretary will move expeditiously to implement Section 128 [of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act], in order that these indispensable provisions can be carried out seamlessly and without delay.”

ACTION: Representatives Hostettler and Young are trying to get as many Congressional signatures as possible before they send their letter to Secretary Mineta. Please ask your Congressman to sign onto the Hostettler-Young letter petitioning the Secretary for immediate action in this important endeavor. Their deadline is next Wednesday.

And those of you who live in Hostettler’s and Young’s districts, be sure to thank them for their diligent efforts to get guns back into airplane cockpits.

You can reach the Congress at 202-225-3121. 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.

—– Pre-written message —–

Dear Representative:

As you know, President Bush recently signed legislation establishing guidelines for arming pilots in the cockpits. Representatives John Hostettler and Don Young are petitioning Secretary Norman Mineta to put these procedures into place immediately so that passengers can travel the skies safely once again.

Please call Hostettler’s office before the end of Wednesday, December 12 and ask them to add your name to this very important letter. Thank you.

Sincerely,