“Guns are a tool”, absolutely, but so is a hammer, but the hammer is only one of many tools in a kit. How many of the LEO’s mentioned in the approved list by the FAA are also qualified experts in confrontation management, hand-to-hand combat and martial arts?
Reading into the many posts on this thread, you cannot help but get the impression that all LEO’s are super cops and if they have a side arm will ultimately save the day. A sidearm is a last resort tool in a properly trained LEO’s kit. An armed LEO on an aircraft has introduced a weapon into a secure environment; he/she not only needs to be an expertly qualified shooter, but also expertly qualified to be able to retain that weapon through other means in the event of being overwhelmed by intruders or expertly trained terrorist(s). Look at that LEO list again, and I think you will recognize that only a small portion of the list has the qualifications as mentioned above. If you happen to know a Sky Marshall, ask him/her if they would like to have one or several “generally trained” LEO’s packing loaded side arms on their flights.
It’s also interesting to note that according to the criminal code and Federal Law, the Pilot In Command holds powers as peace officer from the time the final aircraft door is closed until the time the first door is opened upon arrival. Some of my colleagues have extensive backgrounds in military (some special forces), and law enforcement, yet the policy makers and public are dead set against arming any of these individuals as arming “pilots is dangerous”. Arm every pilot? Absolutely not, logistics prevent that. Arm some pilots? Why not, it creates an extra layer of security, therefore on any given flight, your crew may or may not be armed, and you guess which flight. The whole idea folks, is prevention!
As an Airline Captain, I find it extremely disturbing that our policy makers and security continually run airline crews through the most idiotic searches and bans (nose hair trimmers, nail clippers etc.), and doubt our ID, Licenses etc. (they issued them!). Yet we are supposed to accept any armed LEO’s ID as legitimate.
The Secret Service Agent in the AA case is no doubt expertly qualified, however, it appears his professional demeanour could use some brushing up.
The Captain of the flight is the final check in the system when that last aircraft door is closed and is given the AUTHORIZATION & RESPONSIBILITY by LAW to achieve this. As any good LEO will attest, sometimes it comes down to experience and gut instinct in assessing a situation. The easiest thing for the AA Captain to do would have been to ignore this gut instinct, processed the paperwork and carried on, hoping for the best and thereby saving himself a load of paperwork.
If crews are going to be continually questioned and harassed for these decisions, the public can expect the quality of future critical decision-making to take a turn for the worse.
----------------------------------------------