Jackson: Gun Owners Credited With Defeat of Gun Control

By Captain Dennis Jackson

Captain Dennis Jackson

Airline pilots only number about 100,000. This is hardly a formidable force for such a change in our attitudes and laws regarding firearms. However, the 83,000,000 gun owners were the force multiplier that brought irrational gun control to its knees.

"Even if pilots and their crews were trained in firearms safety and use...it is difficult to imagine that their competence could approach that of law enforcement personnel." The Brady Center report to the FAA Feb. 12, 2002

Something happened on November 19, 2002 that you may not be aware of. 40 years of murderous gun control was overturned, largely by the efforts of YOU…the lawful gun owner/activist.

We were all outraged by the events of September 11, 2001 and our forces were mobilized to a point that we were able to convince our national leaders that firearms are an effective tool for self-defense, even for pilots.. With the passage of the Arming Pilots Against Terrorism amendment of the Homeland Security bill this is now an indisputable fact.

Because of YOUR efforts, because you made phone calls, wrote letters, called talk radio shows and sent e-mails and faxes to your elected representatives we learned a great and important lesson. And that is that we can defeat the forces of gun control!

Arming pilots was a long shot from the beginning. We did not have support from the Bush administration, airline managements, the major pilot unions and the national news media. We have learned from this lesson that we can go forward in our activism and accomplish any goal we desire. We can pick our battles now! What do you want, do want CCW holders to have access to commercial airlines? Do you want to see the sunset of the assault weapons ban? How about a repeal of all gun laws back to NFA 1934? It can be done!

Little did I know when I authored the petition to train and arm airline pilots that the issue would take on a life of it’s own. When Jeffrey Bennett of www.federalobserver.com approached me on this I was skeptical. He was right…thanks Jeff.

Over the past year our effort has attracted many proponents. The most notable of which was Senator Bob Smith of NH. Without his leadership in the Senate we wouldn’t be celebrating this day. But this day is YOURS, yours and the leadership in the gun rights community. You should all be proud and energized by your accomplishment.

Airline pilots only number about 100,000. This is hardly a formidable force for such a change in our attitudes and laws regarding firearms. However, the 83,000,000 gun owners were the force multiplier that brought irrational gun control to its knees.

Airline Pilots' Security Alliance was born out of the ashes of 9/11 and their singular focus rallied many previous detractors to the issue. The APSA organization provided the guidance and direction and the highly organized grassroots gun rights community carried the water for us. YOU have the undying gratitude and respect from every airline pilot in America for your support.

I would like to offer my personal thanks to some of the leaders in the gun rights community for their help in mobilizing and motivating their “troops:”

Jeffrey Bennett of The Federal Observer
Carma Lewis of Armed Females of America
Alan Gottlieb of The Second Amendment Foundation
Angel Shamaya of Keep And Bear Arms
Larry Pratt of Gun Owners of America

and to the thousands of NRA members who were also there for us …

Thanks for everything, you guys ROCK!

Captain Dennis Jackson