Unarmed Passengers Save a City

From: Macklin <mailto:jmacklin@kscable.com>
To: Eagle letters to editor <mailto:letters@wichitaeagle.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 10:58 PM
Subject: Fw: Unarmed passengers save a city

Unarmed passengers exercise their right to self-defense hindered by rules that made them unarmed victims. Although having a 10-1 numerical advantage over the hijackers, the unarmed passengers were unable to regain control of the airplane before it crashed in PA. But they showed courage and by their actions probably saved another American city a much larger death toll.

By their actions they showed that the spirit still lives in some Americans, hampered by stupid an unconstitutional rules. Gun Free Zones, whether air-borne or landside are magnets to terrorists. What better place to attack, where even a plastic knife gives you the advantage.

The numbers tell the tale in my mind...the victims will always outnumber the attackers by 10-1 or more, only a few armed passengers on a bus, plane or train can defend and stop the terrorist, whether a single nut or a squad of trained fanatics. The risk is that only one faction will be armed at any level, the bad guys. Just as it is now. Just as the FAA is making it worse, now your Boy Scout or Swiss Army nail clipper will be illegal on US airlines.

More unarmed victims, shout the FAA and the wimps in Washington. Cower in your place, wait for "help" don't fight back. Maybe that was good advice in the 7-11, but when terrorists plan to kill everybody anyway, better to try. We may never know how close the passengers came to saving their airplane. Perhaps the cockpit voice recorder will tell.

In any case, I suggest Congress create a Medal of Honor for those passengers who tried to save their lives and in the process saved some other American city.

James H. Macklin