Copyright 2002 The Chronicle Publishing Co.  

The San Francisco Chronicle
JUNE 20, 2002, THURSDAY, FINAL EDITION
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. A12

LENGTH: 853 words

HEADLINE: House panel pushes hard to arm airline pilots;

Bush, Mineta oppose gun plan

SOURCE: Chronicle Washington Bureau

BYLINE: Zachary Coile

DATELINE: Washington

BODY:
A Republican-dominated House panel approved a watered-down measure to allow up to 1,400 airline pilots to carry guns in the cockpits of commercial flights despite the strong opposition of Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta and the Bush administration.

The plan won the backing of pilot unions, which still expressed disappointment that under the measure only 2 percent of pilots would be trained and allowed to carry firearms over the next two years.

Administration officials and other critics of the measure said arming the pilots could endanger -- rather than protect -- passengers. And even the limited measure approved Wednesday by the House aviation subcommittee has obstacles ahead before it can become law.

But Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, said, "Arming trained and qualified flight crew members is an absolutely necessary step to ensure the safety and security of the flying public."

Pilot unions, which have lobbied to carry firearms on planes since terrorists hijacked four airliners on Sept. 11, saw Wednesday's vote as a victory for their view that guns in the cockpit can help protect passengers.

"One of the important things this bill does is that it legislatively recognizes the validity of arming pilots," said Capt. Mike Cronin, the executive director of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations. "Now it's a question of how many (pilots)."

But the push to allow even a small number of pilots to carry weapons infuriated critics, who say pilots should focus on flying the plane, not on acting as law enforcement officers.

"We are spending millions of dollars reinforcing the walls between the cockpit door and the passenger cabin to prevent access to pilot controls," said Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Texas, a member of the panel. "If these walls are truly effective, arming pilots will not enhance security."

The full Transportation Committee is scheduled to vote on the measure Wednesday. While proponents expect the legislation to win House approval, it faces tough opposition in the Senate.

Sen. Fritz Hollings, D-S.C, who opposes cockpit guns, has refused to let the measure move through the Commerce Committee, which he chairs. Pilot groups say they may try to attach it to other legislation, such as the Transportation Department spending bill or the measure to create the Department of Homeland Security.

Under the House bill, 500 qualified pilots with previous military or law enforcement experience would be deputized as federal officers and allowed to carry weapons on board just 120 days after the measure is enacted.

Other pilots could volunteer for the training program, which would be similar to that provided to federal air marshals, according to the bill's sponsors.

The Transportation Security Administration would decide what type of firearms and ammunition would be allowed and where they would be stored. After two years, the agency would report to Congress and decide whether to eliminate the program, continue it or expand it.

Pilot unions are hoping to convince Congress to ultimately allow all trained pilots to carry weapons. "If it's a good idea, what's this business about limiting it to 2 percent?" Cronin said.

Pilot groups suffered a blow last month when Transportation Security Administration chief John Magaw announced the administration would oppose arming pilots. Magaw said only federal air marshals who undergo rigorous training should be allowed to carry guns on the plane.

In the Bay Area for a visit last month, Mineta said the administration believes the best bet is to protect pilots by installing a set of double cockpit doors that can be locked from the inside.

But the powerful gun lobby, which argues that pilots should be able to defend themselves, has been pushing Congress to override the administration's opposition. A June 13 e-mail from the National Rifle Association to members of Congress warned they could lose their NRA endorsements for this fall's elections if they don't back the effort to arm pilots.

"To be clear, the NRA will use votes on amendments and any vote on final passage in determining ratings and endorsements in our 2002 Political Preference Charts," the e-mail read.

A spokesman for the Transportation Department said neither the intense lobbying nor the committee's vote had affected the administration's stance.

"Our position is unchanged," said Chet Lunner, the department's chief spokesman.

Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Walnut Creek, a member of the aviation subcommittee, said she'd rather see pilots armed with nonlethal weapons such as the stun guns that United Airlines is training its pilots to use to temporarily disable attackers.

Tauscher also is concerned about a provision in the bill that would waive liability for airlines if the gun brought onboard by pilots accidentally injures a passenger or brings down the plane. The provision was added to mollify the airlines, which have generally opposed allowing guns in the cockpits, in part because of their fear of lawsuits.E-mail Zachary Coile at zcoile@sfchronicle.com.

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