APSA JULY, 2002 ARMED PILOTS UPDATE
Please Send This Update To Everyone You Know!
MEDIA MOMENTUM
APSA continues to the keep the issue of arming pilots in the forefront of aviation security related issues. During the past month APSA board members have made the circuit on various network and local TV as well as radio programs and have been interviewed by the print media. Your board members have been very successful at defeating the last remnants of illogical arguments being made against the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO)program. Some influential people who were adamantly against us are now on our side!
The biggest media event by far was the appearance of the late Captain Victor Saracini's widow, Mrs. Ellen Saracini on The O'Reilly Factor with Bill O'Reilly himself. As you may recall, Victor Saracini was the Captain of the ill-fated United Flight 175 that hit tower two of the WTC. Ellen contacted APSA and offered her help with our issue. Captain Saracini was strongly in favor of arming pilots with firearms PRIOR to 9/11 and Mrs. Saracini does not want her hero husband's death to be in vain. She is a strong and courageous lady who succinctly stated the inarguable truth: ARMING PILOTS IS BAR-NONE, THE EASIEST, CHEAPEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT FUTURE HIJACKINGS. Mrs. Saracini asked to make a short statement at the Senate Commerce Committee hearings on arming pilots held on July 25, 2002. Senator Ernst Hollings, the chairman of the committee, DENIED Ellen the opportunity to make that statement. When Bill O'Reilly heard about this he was rightfully outraged at the
Senator's arrogance. Mr. O'Reilly invited her on the show.
When asked if her husband had a gun on 9/11, would it have saved her husband and passenger's lives (as well as those in the WTC), Ellen simply said, "yes", a simple answer that says so much. Thousands of people would be alive today, and the government would not have to be funding one of the most expensive charades in our history - the hiring of tens-of-thousands federal screeners to grope and molest our citizens. "Yes" is the simple answer that seems to elude some of our esteemed elite politicians. You see, no mater how one tries to complicate the issue, gun beats box cutter EVERY TIME. Just as there are no Atheists in foxholes, every single person on board an airliner that has been attacked by a team of terrorists who have broken down the cockpit door will be praying that the pilots are armed with REAL, LETHAL FIREARMS. Any remaining resistance to arming pilots comes only from a few government bureaucrats, a couple of media elites, the Air Transport Association (ATA, the
airline management's lobby group) and al Queda. Those in favor are the huge majority of our nations airline pilots and the American people. Perhaps those that find themselves siding with al Queda and against professional airline pilots and clear-thinking Americans should re-evaluate their position.
Thank you, Ellen, for your courage, and God Bless you. Mr. O'Reilly, thanks for giving this courageous lady the opportunity to get her late husband's message out to her fellow Americans and to advance the cause of REAL aviation security.
King John is Gone
That's right, folks, John Magaw; the Undersecretary of Transportation and head of the Transport Security Administration (TSA - the Peoples ' Bureau of Aviation Safety) was fired by DOT Secretary Norm Mineta. This was the first major break in the administration's illogical stonewalling on arming airline pilots. "Differences of opinion on security issues" were the official reason for Magaw's dismissal. Inside sources say that Mineta and other high level officials were starting to see the handwriting on the wall on arming pilots. HR 4635 had just passed the House with an overwhelming vote and the Senate was getting ready to do the same. Saving face was now the order of the day. So long King John. Your dictatorial style of leadership and your lavish tastes ($420,000 office) will not be missed.
Nor will your will your heartfelt desire to turn our great country into a police state.
Where are we?
As you are aware, HR 4635 passed by a THREE QUARTERS MAJORITY vote. Thanks to strong efforts by APSA, APA and CAPA, the bill is a strong bill that will allow for all volunteer pilots to be armed if they pass a thorough training program, not the two-year "test" program advocated and endorsed by some that would have armed a mere 250 pilots. The ball is now in the Senate's court. Senate Bill S.2554 - an equally strong bill brought forward by Senator Smith (R NH) and Senator Boxer (D CA) is still waiting to be brought to the Senate floor. If the full Senate voted on the bill today, it would easily pass. Unfortunately, the two most commonly used methods of presenting a bill on the Senate floor have to pass through people who are or were adamantly opposed to this important initiative. The first method is by committee.
On July 25, 2002, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held hearings on the issue of arming pilots. Senator Ernest Hollings (D-SC) is the Chairman of that committee. He has been stubbornly opposed to arming pilots from the beginning. His desire was to stall the bill in the committee or dilute it enough so that it would be a useless program if passed by the Senate. Unfortunately, he was not alone. One of his strongest allies is the calculating Senator John McCain. The bill never made it out of the committee prior to the summer recess.
This is most likely a good thing. Sources now say that his colleagues on the committee are vigorously opposing Hollings. In addition, Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) is doing his part to pressure the good Senator with a rally in Columbia, SC, OpEds, and media appearances. (Thank You Representative Wilson!) Also, APSA members have put tremendous pressure on Chairman Hollings to move the armed pilot bill out of his committee for a fair hearing before the full Senate. It is APSA's understanding that the bill will most likely be presented to the Senate after the recess. Hollings is beginning to relent and it appears that he may not oppose our bill. However, we cannot take this for granted-We need to keep up the pressure on these guys.
The second method is for the Senate Majority leader to take HR 4635 to the floor for a vote. This could happen any time that Senator Daschle
chooses to do so and we need to keep pressure on him to bring HR 4635 to a vote before the Senate. However, we are not solely relying upon Senator Daschle or Hollings to do the right thing - in the Senate, we can always offer our bill as an amendment to another bill that is being voted upon. The bottom line is this; one way or another, we'll get an armed pilot bill to a vote before the full Senate very soon after the Senate re-convenes in September and we'll win the vote if you'll keep the pressure on the individual Senators.
As far as the White House is concerned, we have it from excellent sources that President Bush will not oppose this bill. He will sign it into law if it gets to his desk. What a great turnaround!
VITAL ACTION ITEMS
1. Call both your Senators. Tell them to support S.2554 or the House
version, HR 4635. The Capitol Switchboard is 202/224-3121. Just tell them your state of residence and they will connect you. You don't even need to know their names before you call.
2. Call Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle at 202/224-2321 and Senate
Minority Leader Trent Lott 202/224-6253. Tell them to "allow the FULL SENATE to consider HR 4635 or S.2554." Both are very strong pieces of legislation for arming pilots.
3. All Senators will be home until after Labor Day. Check your local
phone directory and call both of your Senators local offices. Voice your strong support for HR 4635 and S.2554. Ask your Senators to co-sponsor both bills.
We WILL get a vote in the Senate very soon after the Senate returns. With your continued activism, WE CAN WIN THIS VOTE. We're near the end of this marathon, so stay with us and we will get a meaningful program for arming airline pilots!
APSA Web Site:
www.secure-skies.org