Last week, Congress passes legislation allowing commercial pilots to carry handguns in the cockpit of airplanes. Is this a good idea?

Jason Winsky Best defense a good offense An event like the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, should be remembered and memorialized, but also examined closely. There can be some knowledge gained from studying the events of the airline hijackings to ensure that they never happen again. Terrorists using rudimentary weapons were able to take control of several airplanes and eventually crash them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It's worth asking, "Could the events of that tragic day have been changed by something as simple as pilots carrying handguns in the cockpit?" The answer, it would seem, is obvious. It's all too easy to get into the "what if" games, but it would certainly seem that armed pilots would have stood a better chance of fending off the attackers. Almost a year after the tragedy, Congress seems to agree. There is now a bill on President Bush's desk authorizing pilots to carry handguns in the cockpit. There is good logic behind this legislation. This is not an impulsive wartime proposal. Congress studied and weighed the matter for almost a year. It's the right thing to do. Law enforcement agents have carried guns on airplanes for years. They are called Sky Marshals, and they can be very effective in deterring crime. In addition, there are many types of guns and ammunition that would prevent bullets from cracking the frame of the airplane. There are, of course, fundamental issues that are involved in any gun debate. The legislation proposed would allow pilots to carry handguns, but not mandate them to do so. In other words, pilots, should they be properly trained, would be able to make their own individual choice as to whether or not they want to protect themselves in that way. Most pilots would need very little training in order to carry handguns. An overwhelming percentage of pilots have had military training. They are more than capable of handling guns in the cockpit. As a side note, it is interesting to mention that the large, strong pilots' union first brought forth the idea of arming pilots to Congress. Many Democrats ended up supporting the legislation. Irony?

Kendrick Wilson Pilots are not security guards Somehow the gun lobbyists have managed to convince both houses of Congress that arming our airline pilots will make our skies safer and more secure. This is an enormous step backwards for a number of reasons. A recent "60 Minutes" exposŽ revealed that El Al Israel Airlines, known as the safest, most secure airline in the world, has taken many steps to guarantee the security of flights beyond what is required in the United States, and arming pilots wasn't listed as one of its brilliant measures. To begin with, arming pilots on an El Al flight would do little to control the behavior of passengers, given the impenetrable barrier between the cockpit and passengers. A mandatory impenetrable barrier cockpit door on American flights would in all likelihood do far more to prevent airline hijackings than allowing pilots to be armed. Such a barrier would have undoubtedly averted the Sept. 11 attacks last year. El Al also places undercover armed security guards on its flights. Congress has asked U.S. pilots to take on the role of security guard as well as pilot. The first and only priority for pilots should be to safely fly and land the airplane. If our airlines need armed security guards, Congress should fund them. Security at the airport in Tel Aviv makes U.S. airport security seem almost non-existent. There are three checkpoints before a car can even park at the airport. While El Al admits to racial profiling ÷ with which I disagree ÷ the United States, and certainly our Congress, could take a lesson from their airport passenger screening. But thanks to our Congress and the only president we've got, this is America! Our pilots will be armed and airline passengers will face only flimsy doors keeping them from entering the cockpit. Without an impenetrable barrier protecting the pilot, any weapons he or she carries into the cockpit could just as easily be used against the airline crew as to protect them. Airline security will continue to be lax as long as our Congress is afraid of creating thousands of new union government jobs. Congress has done much to appease the gun lobby and practically nothing to improve the security of our skies.