Rep. Baker helps pass 'armed pilots' bill out of key House panel

June 19, 2002

WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, added his vote and strong support in clearing a key legislative hurdle for bipartisan legislation that would create a test program allowing up to 1,400 commercial airline pilots to carry firearms to combat terrorist attacks.

The “Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act” (HR 4635), cosponsored by Baker, a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, easily passed a vote today in the Subcommittee on Aviation, and would permit, if enacted, qualified commercial pilots on a voluntary basis being trained and authorized to carry firearms in protection of their cockpits and planes.

The legislation is expected to be marked up by the full House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee next Wednesday.

“This is common-sense legislation that focuses squarely on airplane security and on the safety and well being of passengers,” said Baker.

The legislation follows on the heals of a broader airline security bill passed into law last year, which included a measure drafted by Baker expanding the Federal Air Marshals program.

“In this day and age, you just can’t have too much security to help people feel protected from even the most unforeseeable threats, and this bill simply tries to make sure all the bases are covered,” Baker said.

     Major provisions in the legislation include:

 

1.      A two-year test of allowing guns in the cockpit.

2.      The two-year period begins only when the first 250 pilots have been deputized to carry a gun in the cockpit.

3.      The number of deputized pilots is capped at 2 percent of the total pilot workforce (about 1,400).

4.      Preference is given to pilots who are former military or law enforcement.

5.      Pilots must undergo Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved training before being deputized.

6.      Before deputizing pilots, the TSA must establish the protocols for carrying guns (i.e. type of gun, type of ammunition, where the gun is stored, pilot interaction with the air marshals, ensuring the pilot does not take the gun into the passenger cabin).

7.      At the end of the two-year test period, TSA issues a report to Congress and decides whether the program is to be continued, expanded, or terminated.

8.      The bill requires separate self-defense training for flight attendants.

The timeline for the implementation of the test program is as follows:

• Two months after the date of enactment, the TSA must have established the protocols for carrying guns in the cockpit
• Two months after the date of enactment (or four months if it takes TSA that long to establish the protocols), TSA begins deputizing pilots to carry guns
• When 250 pilots have been deputized, the two-year test period begins.
• At the end of the two-year period, TSA issues the report and decides whether to continue, terminate or expand the program.
• If TSA decides to continue or expand the program it must propose rules for the program within 60 days.

U.S. House Privacy Policy

Home     Recent News     Offices     E-mail     Links     District Map     Biography