Political Quotes

“I am proud to join Senator Smith, Senator Boxer, and others. I was one of the original Members joining Senator Smith in this effort, which allows commercial pilots the right to carry firearms in defense of their aircraft. We have heard the explanation given time and again, if indeed an aircraft is hijacked and you happen to be on that plane, that there is the authority to take that airplane down with a military jet, an F-l6, or whatever. I think any Member, if asked would they support having the pilot in command of the aircraft having a weapon of some kind, a handgun, as a last line of defense, that virtually every Member of this body would say absolutely, anything other than the alternative, which would be to take the aircraft down. I have listened to the debate here off and on today, and I would like to comment a little bit. The Senator from South Carolina is interested in the secure doors. Some of the airlines are putting secure doors on their aircraft. They are doing it currently at their own expense. I just took a flight across the country, and the cockpit door was opened six times by either the pilot or copilot on a 5 hour flight. At least two times it was opened to provide food access into the cockpit. So that cockpit door was opened eight times during that flight. That is the harsh reality. We do not have the capability to feed nor to provide restroom facilities for the crew.”