Arming Pilots
John Lott recently wrote in National Review Online about arming pilots. He's in favour (no surprise there). Some interesting things to note: the Transportation Security Administration acknowledges that many lethal weapons are undetectable (and hence, cannot be guarded against); pilots of planes carrying mail used to be required to be armed (in order to defend the mail in case of a crash); military pilots flying outside of the US must carry sidearms; pilots were allowed to bear arms as late as 1987; studies from 1996–2000 show that only eight thousandths of one percent of assaults on police officers resulted in them being killed with their own weapons. Also, the argument that a few bullet holes would destroy the plane is foolish: 14 Boeing aircraft have survived in-air bomb explosions! Every Boeing aircraft which has experienced handgun fire has landed safely. As always, Lott shines light on the subject.
