Andres
Conversation Paper
English Composition II
Professor.
3-31-15

Topic: Armed Pilots/Air Marshalls

Research Question: What are the benefits and disadvantages of having a armed air Marshall or Pilot post 9/11?

Conversation Participants
1. Andres
2. David Stout, Author of article, "Government Says Pilots Can't Have Guns in Cockpits."
3. Ethan Green, Author of article, "Gov't: Pilots Can't Have Guns in Cockpit."
4. Lori Robinson, Reviewer of Books ,"Guns for Pilots."
5. Kim James, Author of Article, “Guns in Cockpits”

ME: Thanks for agreeing to talk with me, today. I invited you all here because you are experts in your areas and I wanted to hear your opinions on the benefits and disadvantages of having a armed air Marshall or Pilot post 9/11. I personally feel that guns actually improve the safety of airlines post 9/11.

Stout: I am a man who prefers not having weapons on a plane, because we have significant security measures to protect the people of the United States when they fly across the country. "Pilots need to concentrate on flying the plane," John Magaw, the undersecretary for transportation security, said at a Senate (Stout1). What the man is saying is that pilots should not have any distractions when flying a aircraft with hundreds of people on board.

Green: I am a man very against having weapons on many aircrafts agreeing with what stout said. Giving air marshal’s and pilots access to firearms puts everyone at more risk then not having any on board. Why? You way ask because if a terrorist were to perhaps breach into the cockpit or discover the air marshal and take there weapons then what’s going to happen? “Opponents of arming pilots have said reinforced cockpit doors now required on all planes mean that pistols are unnecessary. They have also expressed concern that an errant shot might hit a passenger or damage.”(Green1).

Robinson: I am a supporter of air marshal’s and pilots having guns. This will be the next step in protecting our future. We live in a very dangerous world now and because of this dangerous world we live in, we have to “up our game” to say the least. What were to happen if a terrorist managed to slip a knife past security and on a plane now it’s a knife against fist. We need a way for our pilots to protect themselves for the worst-case scenario. “Arming our pilots is protecting the people on board”(Robinson12).

Kim: I think very differently compared to the other experts. I believe pilots and air Marshals should be allowed to carry firearms on board, but for worst-case scenarios only. For example you put the firearm in a compartment on the plane that is only opened with the push of an emergency button, which will contact the nearest air traffic controller tower. “In this world you can never be to careful”(Janson34).