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Stun gun plan on planes wins support
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Stun guns could be used on planes as a deterrent against terrorist attacks, the Transportation Security Administration said Monday. Spokesman Robert Johnson said an agency report to Congress concludes "commercial aviation security can be enhanced through the deployment of less than lethal electrical shock." The Transportation Security Administration said the move would have a deterrent effect on terrorists but it has yet to work out the details and has not approved airline requests to use the less-than-lethal weapons. Both United and Mesa airlines have asked that their pilots be allowed to use stun guns to deliver electrical shocks to attackers trying to get into cockpits. United began training its pilots to use stun guns last year. Johnson said the "airlines ought to see this as a positive step," adding that they do not have approval to use stun guns yet. John Mazur of the Air Line Pilots Association said his union is "not opposed to [stun guns] as long as they don't interfere with training pilots to use guns. Guns are the most effective deterrent." Before final approval can be given, the Transportation Security Administration and airlines will have to agree to details such as what type of stun guns can be used and where they will be stored. Gun safety rulesSome pilots already have lethal weapons in the cockpit. The first class of pilots graduated from training to use guns in April, and more will follow this summer. In February, Adm. James Loy, the Transportation Security Administration's administrator, accepted recommendations from a task force on how airline pilots should be armed and trained. The task force recommended pilots and co-pilots receive 48 hours of training to use .40-caliber semiautomatic pistols. Under the training, pilots are required to undergo background checks and psychological testing to ensure they use the weapons effectively in a crisis. Guns must be carried in a holster during flight, and trained pilots only can use them to defend the cockpit -- they aren't allowed to use them in the cabin. That job is reserved for air marshals. To transport the guns, trained pilots first must put the weapons in a lockbox and then put the lockbox in a nondescript bag. Congress passed legislation allowing pilots to carry firearms last year. The move was part of a push for increased security in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks. CNN Correspondent Patty Davis contributed to this report.
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