Isn't it possible to kill with your bare hands?
Hmmm. Maybe we'd better just strap everyone to their seats for the duration of the flight, then? Deep vein Thrombosis or not? Those needing to visit the bathroom will have to be taken under armed guard? Nah, why take risks? how about an armed escort fighter for every flight? (With every crew member being armed in case his colleage is a wrong-un?)
Seriously, though. It is a tough one. Low-velocity 22's are an option (although they are in no way reliable for a clean kill - or to hit who you were aiming at). Tasers are perhaps a better option but A) can only be used once for practical purposes B) sometimes are ineffective, if people have been able to prepare to be hit by them.
I know a lot of pilots come from the military, but not all pilots would want to carry guns and many would not be any good if asked to use one. Maybe give selected pilots the option, if they voulenteer, for additional training in hostage situations and subseqent arming but i'd go for seperate armed air-marshals posted at the flight-desk doors if you really MUST have guns on planes. At the end of the day, you can't both fly a 747 AND fight a pitched gun battle with terrorist hijackers at the same time. And being strapped into your seat on the flight deck in front of all the instruments, shooting back into the passenger lined cabin is NOT a good position to be fighting from.
oh, why can't we all just get along?
or is that a bad idea, too?
[ 23 September 2001: Message edited by: gdb1973 ]
[ 23 September 2001: Message edited by: gdb1973 ]