Inform the Pilots
An Open Letter to Mineta and Ridge

by David Codrea
codrea4@adelphia.net

March 27, 2002

Dear Secretary Mineta and Director Ridge,

I have a question regarding airport and airline security. I call your attention to two articles that I recently wrote:

The first, "It's Time to Show the Servant's Who's in Charge," urges pilots to strike if the government refuses to allow them to carry firearms onboard.

The second, "A Different Kind of War...," urges pilots to demand hazardous duty pay when flying unarmed into a war zone, that is, wherever there is danger of having their aircraft hijacked by our enemies and/or shot down by our F-16's.

Click image for larger version

I'd like to get these articles to as many pilots as I can so that they can pressure their unions to implement these tactics. A reader who agrees suggests handing them to pilots. My question to you: If I or others pass these articles out to pilots at airports or ask flight attendants to give them copies while onboard aircraft, will we be arrested and charged with any "crime," such as interfering with a flight crew or some other federal charge? What about if we wear "Arm the Pilots" buttons (without pin fasteners?), or create similarly-themed cards, and pass them out?

Please answer ASAP, because I'd really like to begin exercising my First Amendment rights in defense of the Second. A letter from you acknowledging that this is protected activity could be shown to security personnel (*) — that would go a long way toward safeguarding such Constitutionally-guaranteed activities and help the guards focus on real threats — like the people we want the pilots armed against.

As long as I have your ear, please indulge me in one further question: Because you have declared airports and aircraft "Second Amendment-free/Terrorist Empowerment Zones," will you now accept responsibility for crew and passenger safety? By responsibility, I mean fiscal liability for failure to perform a duty — will you issue a legally enforceable guarantee acknowledging that, by denying individuals the means of defense and assuming all authority for providing security, a legally recognized "special relationship" (**) will exist between the federal government, the carriers and the flying public?

It only seems right.

And I bring the "public" part up because, even if pilots have guns, unarmed-by-edict passengers will still be on their own — the flight crew's main (and proper) task will be to protect the cockpit — so I wouldn't expect (nor want) them to open the door to save me — not with what we've seen is at stake. And from what I've seen from you fellows, I don't expect you to make use of the unorganized militia recognized by the Constitution and U.S. Code any time soon.

Too bad. I'd really love to be able to hand your security people a document from the Founders acknowledging that my being armed any damned where I please is protected activity — we have one, you know — you may recall swearing an oath to uphold it?

Your prompt response to my specific questions will be appreciated — and shared.  In the absence of an affirmative reply to these concerns, may we count on you to lead by example, and limit your security details' arms to stun guns?

Keep 'em flying!

David Codrea

(*) Not that free Americans should need a "permission slip" from their servants — but we don't realistically expect your front line breast gropers, sleeping monitors, and Medal of Honor winner hasslers to be any better versed in honoring the Bill of Rights than they are at, say, identifying terrorists or keeping weapons out of airports — or any better versed than you appear to be. So perhaps such a letter will keep us from being arrested (or worse).

(**) This concept (and more) is explained in Dial 911 and Die by Richard W. Stevens.

Afterword

Pilots — How much longer will you allow your safety and that of your aircraft, crew and passengers to be endangered?

Per USA Today: 

"Investigators carried knives past screeners in more than 70% of tests. Screeners failed to spot guns in 30% of tests. Screeners failed to detect simulated explosive devices in 60% of tests. Overall, screeners failed to stop prohibited items in 48% of tests. Investigators either secretly boarded an aircraft or gained access to the airport tarmac in 48% of tests."

You have the power to force the government's hand. You have the power to reclaim your right to bear defensive arms. WE can only support you from the sidelines — unless YOU take bold action to assert your right, this dangerous and transparently ineffectual farce will continue. I urge you to sit your union representatives down, have them read the referenced articles presented above, and together put an immediate end to the government's criminally irresponsible conduct.  If they don't agree to your just and necessary demands, let Mineta and Ridge fly the planes.

They know you can't possibly be replaced and that the planes simply will not fly without your consent.  Neither the government nor the airlines can afford the political or economic fallout of a strike — not even for a few days — and you are holding all the cards.  If you hang together, they can't hang you separately — they have neither the resources nor the public support.   We can probably ensure safer skies within a week from today — or we can continue letting our servants endanger us all in their madness.

It's up to you.

David Codrea is a co-founder and director for the national pro-rights media campaign, Citizens of America (CitizensOfAmerica.org), and an advisor and contributor for KeepAndBearArms.com. His professional writing is featured often in Guns and Ammo magazine. Additionally, he is the national coordinator for A Petition for the Enforcement of the Second Amendment (KeepAndBearArms.com/Petition). His archives can be accessed here: KeepAndBearArms.com/Codrea.

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