Originally posted by cermiestar
there's that thing, if you have a gun in the home, it is ten times more likely to be fired at a family member than an intruder....i geuss it's the same with the planes....it could be used against people....
That's only if an intruder has a gun or manages to disarm the defender of his or her gun in their own home...Cermiestar has a good point and a legitimate concern nonetheless. However, if I knew the people in the house had a gun, I would certainly think twice before breaking in.
Air Marshals can use a variety of non-lethal ammo, and stun gus too, but the potential of the attacker wearing body armor would make a clean body shot difficult. If it can be done the inside cockpits should be reinforced and tested for impact against a variety of bullet calibers before having the pilots OR the air marshals come aboard. And perhaps if the CEO'S and big bosses who run these companies behind a desk all day would actually be willing to live for 6 or 7 years w\o their big bonuses, maybe there would be enough money to improve the planes.
If an air marshal is killed or incapacitated, the pilot would still have to be able to control the plane. So yes to arming air marshals and pilots.
While it's sad that some accidents may occur, isn't it better to have a few casualties, than a whole plane full of people crashed into the side of another tower? And failing in that, beat the hell out of the idiots like the did to the Shoe Bomber Richard Reid. if you're going to die, die standing UP......
Originally posted by KidRock
arent there guns that arent high caliber enough to pierce planes???plus listen to this... why not have no cockpit door.. before take off have the pilots climb up into the plane via the cockpit window (have it lift and shut) that way there is no way a terrorist could get in there.... ideas comments?
Yes, there are very high caliber rounds that can penetrate up to 400
cm of rolled homogenous armor, but we're talking the AT-4 anti tank weapon, and unless a terrorist can snuggle one of THOSE aboard, we're talking small caliber (7.62 to 9mm to .45 and 50 cal) Technically yes they can penetrate the cockpits. As for the cockpits, the major industries had about 30 days after Sep.11 to reinforce and bolt the cockpit doors, and how many of them have since that time, noone knows.
While mistakes can happen, air marshals and other law enforcement entities train 24\7 to make sure they hit the target and nothing but. While I support the notionof armed marshals and pilots, I also realize the danger, but then again a whole plane of people being driven into another building is far worse than a few people getting hurt on board a passenger plane-NOT fighting back is just as dangerous as fighting back. Decisions, decisions....I certainly hope they beat the shit out of the next hijackers like they did to the Shoe Bomber Richard Reid-they gy could barely walk when they arrested him and it's good enough for him....
The effects of firearm discharge in a pressurized commercial aircraft is dependent on the size of hole caused by the bullet. Inside most commercial aircraft, there are already two existing 'holes' for regulating the cabin pressurization. They are called the outflow valves, one located in the front and the other is at the belly. Their function is to modulate and maintain a desired cabin pressure and it varies with the aircraft altitude. This operation is performed automatically.
If a gunshot creates a clean hole through the skin, it is not going to be disastrous because air will just whistle out of the hole. The outflow valves will automatically response to this sudden loss of air by closing the valves a little to compensate for the air leak.
The aircraft would certainly not disintegrate unless there is a bomb on
board.
the biggest thing that'll put of any atta wannabes on british planes is a load of pissed up brits giving it "all that" with the air rage and the 3 year old football tops and "love hate" tattoos on the knuckles...and the brown teeth...and the burberry caps...
"deess ees a hiijaaackkk" (sounds like a frenchman but never mind)
"shut it ya dirty terrorist c**t...dont make me come down the front o that plane and kick yer bastard c**t in ya f**kin d**k"