Ridge Opposes Guns For Pilots

As the Bush administration contemplates whether to allow commercial pilots to carry guns to defend against hijackings, U.S. Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge is saying he does not endorse the idea, USA Today reported on Monday.

"I don't think we want to equip our pilots with firearms, Ridge said in an interview with the newspaper. "That doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

Ridge did not express an opinion on whether pilots should be allowed to arm themselves with stun guns as a security measure, USA Today said.

White House officials told the newspaper Ridge's view reflects the opinion of President Bush, who has not yet commented publicly on the issue which is being examined as a means of beefing up airline flight security in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 hijack attacks.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta opposes demands by commercial pilots that they be given handguns, but would support non-lethal weapons like stun guns, the Transportation Department said on Saturday.

The department has previously played down arming pilots with lethal weapons, but Mineta's support of stun guns, conveyed in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, was the first time he has taken a position on the issue.

It is not clear whether the government, if it approves them, would mandate stun guns on aircraft or simply permit airlines to have them if they want. There is no timetable for a decision, but the airlines expect one soon.

USA Today was reporting on the results of its request to readers to submit questions about terrorism to Ridge. The newspaper said one-third of the 393 people who submitted questions asked about aviation security

The report said one airline captain asked why he could not arm himself in order to save his passengers and crew.

"Where do you stop?" replied Ridge. "If pilots carry guns (then) railroad engineers and bus drivers could ask to do the same."