By Ron Thaniel
August 5, 2002

The new head of the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) on July 25 said that he is "hesitant" to arm commercial airline pilots but has ordered tests of how guns and stun guns might be used in the cockpit.

TSA Under Secretary James M. Loy told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that he had directed the Transportation Security Administration's technical center in Atlantic City to "look at some possibilities" of arming pilots with weapons, which former TSA Under Secretary John W. Magaw opposed.

The center will study different types of stun guns, which can temporarily immobilize a person with an electric shock, as well as guns firing rubber and cement bullets, Transportation Department spokesman Lenny Alcivar said.

A House bill arming pilots passed by a vote of 310 to113 on July 10, but the plan faces an uncertain road in the Senate, including opposition from Transportation Committee Chairman Senator Ernest F. Hollings (SC). However, acknowledging support for the bill in the Senate that would allow pilots to carry guns, Hollings said on July 30 that he would bring the measure up for a committee vote in September.

The measure's chief sponsor, Robert C. Smith (NH) at one point considered bringing the bill (S 2554) to the floor as an amendment to the fiscal 2003 defense bill (HR 5010) scheduled for a vote this week.

However, Smith said late Tuesday his amendment would likely be ruled out of order, so instead he will try to attach it to legislation that would create a new Homeland Security Department. That bill is expected to come up after the August recess.

The measure would allow the Transportation Department to deputize trained volunteer pilots as "federal flight deck officers" and allow them to defend the cockpit with lethal force.

On Thursday during the hearing, Senator Hollings said "Let's forget about these pistols," arguing that reinforced cockpit doors kept locked during the flight would be sufficient.

Airlines reinforced cockpit doors with metal bars immediately after September 11. They are required to install completely fortified doors by April.