Armed Pilots Legislation Passes In Homeland Security Legislation

This story is from The Airline Pilot's Security Alliance out of Cincinnati, Ohio.

When the United States Senate passed the Homeland Security legislation on Tuesday, Nov. 19, it included legislation that will make it possible for airline pilots to carry firearms on the flight deck if they choose to do so.

This is a great victory for those who were involved in the fight, including OFCC PAC Chairman Jim Irvine, an American Airlines pilot.

The legislation does not allow individual airlines to "opt-out" of the program, leaving the decision entirely up to the pilots who qualify for the program.

Ironically, while anti-gun extremists tried to suggest that passengers would be at risk if pilots could carry, law-makers instead exempted cargo pilots (who have no passengers to protect) from the program.