USA v EU : The Battle For The Sky., page 1

Many of you are making up stories and repeating inflammatory remarks to support your case.

I would like to submit the following information, which is gladly provided by my cousin Kathleen's husband, Kyle, who happens to be an Air Marshall employed by the TSA.

First of all, most hanguns cannot penetrate the hull or double-paned windows in most modern passenger aircraft. Modern aircraft are designed from the onset to survive just such an occurance, and most handguns do not have sufficient muzzle velocity to do enough damage to force a rapid, catastrophic decompression of the main passenger cabin. (there are a few exceptions, most in the large caliber hunting pistols, such as the .44 Magnun and Desert Eagle class of handgun).

IF a gunshot were to induce rapid decompression of a cabin, it is highly unlikely that would cause any loss of control or instability in an aircraft, unless the aircraft is travelling at supersonic speeds or over 45K feet in altitude. There is only one passenger aircraft that fits this description, and it was recently retired from the BA and Air France fleets last year. Otherwise, emergency oxygen procedures would be activated and the pilot would most likely descend to a safer altitude within a few minutes. Despite what Hollywood likes to present, when an aircraft cabin decompresses, it does not throw passengers around, people do not have the air sucked out of their lungs instantly, and planes do not go into a fatal spin. Surely it is a dangerous situation, but hardly a catastrophy (this is assuming that the cabin remains intact).

Prior to 911, Americans ALSO didnt like the idea of guns on our aircraft, but they were there, despite what everyone thinks. We do not have a "cultural thing" about guns. However, we recently discovered that a loaded passenger jet can be used effectively as a cruise missle agaist soft targets. We just dont like the idea of having alot of cruise missiles flying over our heads with people we either a) dont know, or b) don't trust at the controls.

By the way, the Air Mashalls is not a new idea, they have been around for many, many years. They just recently have been greatly expanded. Also, federal and state law enforcement officals have been carrying their weapons with them on aircraft for DECADES without incident, because the FAA prefers that handguns and ammunition NOT be put in with checked luggage (they dont trust the baggage handlers). Thousands or FBI agents, US Marshalls, and members of the various State Police forces travel with their handguns every year. So where are all these planes being brought down by guns on an aircraft?

Flying a foreign-controlled aircraft into US airspace is a privilege, not a right, and we are free to dictate any security requirement as a condition of entry that we want or feel is necessary. If you don't like the requirement, feel free to stay away. Our airlines will probably be happy to pick up the slack. If you feel that you must penalize us on you end for our security policies (such as Brazil), go for it. We either won't complain about it, or we won't come to your country.

Personally, it doesnt surprise me that the pacifist European nations all have their panties in a bunch over this. After all, most Europeans only associate a gun with having a gun pointed in their face. Centuries of killing each other, including the last 2 world wars, will do that to you. Americans (generally) dont have the same feeling about guns. We have never been defeated in war on our own land, nor have we ever had foreign invaders march us off to death camps at the barrel of a rifle. The few time foreigners (and you know who you are) have tried to wage war on us in our own land, it was the militia and common people, equipped with their own, personal weapons they kept in their homes, who threw the aggressor back out to sea. We also have the advantage of having alot of open space to hunt and shoot if and when we feel like it, so gun ownership does not have the same stigma here as it does in Europe. Do not believe what Hollywood and the liberal media tries to tell you. This is not the wild west over here and guns do not figure that prominently in our lives.

I guarentee that the average passenger flying with an Air Marshall has alot more to fear from shoddy maintenance work on their aircraft, or their pilot's flying ability, than the possibiliy of the Air Marshall's weapon causing them harm.

[Edited on 7-1-2004 by Pyros]