will put my two cents, euros, pence, punts, prestos and nachos as well into this discussion,
this subject about guns for pilots is just the tip of the iceberg of a huge deep subject, i think.
i personally think that we should be able to if we think it best; in the cockpit and at home as well.
cold hard fact of life is that everyone is going to die one way or the other.
in the countries that have taken guns away from the common people, those same common people seem to make up for it in automobile accidents, knifing, drugs and drinking.
in the countries that i have been in, when only the government is allowed to have firearms, the government seems to take as much other control as possible. i really think that the countries' leaders would think differently if they knew in the back of their mind, that if they make taxes and other legislation bad enough for the common person, some commoner is bound to come and use one of their last remaining powers. perhaps one reason why america's taxes are one of the least is because even the president is aware that the common person can have some real power when push comes to shove. puts a little meat to the words, government by the people and for the people.
the present nations only came to pass because of the sword and later the gun. it wasn't a taking away of guns that stabilized civilization. it was when they figured out there were better things to do. (good to have the sword or gun to use when the other person wants to take something by force) keeping that right in the hands of the common person will keep governments' feet on the ground, and give second thoughts to everyone else.
from the statistics i have read, all the security people and policeman who are allowed to use guns appear to be no more stable than the average flight crewmember who is indeed allowed to control a long slow bullet with lots of people on board.
the individuals who choose to carry a gun can pay for the training themselves and use their holiday time. that will stop the airlines' whinging about that expense.
i personally don't have one at this time. have in the past and think the ability to get one in the future is my right just as much as any government officials'.
the saying goes, he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. but having one to use in emergencies is not the same as living by it.
(i'm waiting for the incoming)
