26 March 2008

Update On Last Week's US Airways Flight Deck Firearm Discharge


It appears there are some bizarre procedures that Transportation Security Administration requires of flight deck officers who have firearms in the cockpit. Such prodecures may well explain why a firearm was discharged in the cockpit of a US Airways jet in-bound for Charlotte, N.C. last week.
"Putting a gun into a holster and then threading a padlock through the trigger and trigger-guard is required every time the pilots enter or leave the cockpit."

The words "recipe for disaster" are an understatement, if you ask me. Read David Codrea's commentary and use the link to go to a more detailed story. I'm sure there will be more coming out on this incident. Guns don't just go off by themselves.

It reminds me of four years ago, when Ohio was debating concealed carry. There was a move by some lawmakers that would require CCW licensees to unload their firearm before they got into the car, if there were children under 18 in the vehicle. Accordingly, when you exited the vehicle, lawmakers who had no clue what they were suggesting said "then just load your gun again," conceal the firearm and head on to your business.

Self defense activists from a number of state organizations here were able to kill that langauge by pointing out the danger of repeatedly -- and unnecessarily -- handling a loaded firearm. Who led the charge in the Statehouse once the problem was pointed out? Lawmakers with law enforcement and military background, who quickly realized that each time the gun was loaded and unloaded there was the chance of a shooting incident. That language eventually disappeared.
So back to the US Airways incident last week. Running a lock through the trigger guard of a loaded gun? What bureaucrat came up with that obviously dangerous idea?

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