Demand To Eliminate Psychological, Physical And Background Checks Is Absurd

Op-Ed By ANN Correspondent Juan Jiménez

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On Wednesday, February 12, the Airline Pilots' Security Alliance issued an "Action Alert," calling on its members to complain to their Representatives and Senators, as well as to the White House, regarding the TSA plans for the implementation of the pilot program to allow pilots to carry firearms in the cockpits of airliners and other commercial aircraft.

The Alerts states that the APSA opposes the TSA's plans to require a lengthy application and resume, a psychological exam, a psychiatric exam with a TSA psychiatrist, a background investigation, a medical evaluation, supervision by TSA employees during firearms training, and a final psychological assessment at the end of the training.

The TSA Is Right On This One

For once I agree with the TSA. Just what exactly is it that makes APSA thinks that airline pilots are exempt from such requirements? Do they want the airlines to simply hand out guns in dispatch to take onto aircraft without so much as a passing thought?

Pardon me, but the fact is that during the past few months we have had numerous instances of these "highly training, stable, reliable and ex-military" personnel attempt to get into an airplane and fly off with passengers while legally drunk. I for one am tired of the bizarre assertions that just because someone is trained to fly an airplane and came from a background where the average officer qualified once a year with a firearm, the same person is qualified to carry firearms in an airliner cockpit without any training, psychological tests and background checks.

In this case, the TSA is absolutely correct: not a single pilot should be allowed to carry firearms in the cockpit without having gone through the tests, checks and training listed on the APSA web site. As far as I am concerned, those pilots who object to going through the same steps that a law enforcement officer, federal air marshal or armed federal officers must go through before being allowed to carry firearms in an airliner can simply choose not to be allowed to carry that firearm. The average airline pilot has more than enough off-duty time each month to go through the process the TSA is putting in place for this program. If they choose not to go through it, fine, they don't get access to the firearm in the cockpit. End of story.

Pick Up The Phone

Finally, I urge the public to call (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak to their Congressional representatives and Senators, and tell them that you don't want to see pilots carrying firearms in airliners without the tests and checks that the TSA is suggesting be given to them. Next, call (202) 456-1111 and tell President Bush that you support the TSA on the issue of firearms in the cockpit and that no one should be allowed to carry firearms in an airliner without appropriate tests, checks and authorizations.

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FMI: www.tsa.dot.gov