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Armed Airline Pilots Term Paper

Pilots and Guns Attention getter -- I am on a jet flying high above the Atlantic Ocean and the flight seems fine. Then, I hear a gunshot coming from the pilot's cabin. Instantly, the plane depressurizes and I suddenly wake up in a cold sweat. Wow, what a dream. Good thing no one is allowed to carry a gun on a plane. Wait, was it really a dream? This report tries to answer the question of whether airline pilots should be allowed to carry guns.

The thesis of the report can be stated in two ways:

Airline pilots have a responsibility to defend them selves, protect their passengers and maintain control of their airplane, but they should not be allowed to carry guns on flights

Since airline pilots have a responsibility to defend them selves, protect their passengers and maintain control of their airplane, they should be allowed to carry guns but only if they also use specialized bullets that won't cause depressurization

C. Summary of main points:

First argument -- Although there may seem to be a need for pilots to carry guns, pilots bringing guns on board planes may actually increase dangers and create new risks.

2. Second argument -- Rubber bullets or self-destruct bullets that disintegrate upon contact with hard objects may create a situation where guns could be considered safe enough because they would not cause depressurization.

3. Third argument -- I wouldn't want some bus driver carrying a gun on the street so do really want a pilot acting like the police at 30, 000 feet?

II. Discussion of first point

A. Topic sentence: Since 9/11, the fact that terrorism...

Support for first argument
The airline industry knows they have a responsibility to protect passengers, flight crews and anyone an airplane could potentially hurt outside the plane. But, pilots are not gunfighters so they shouldn't carry guns in the cockpit. Pilots bringing guns on board may actually increase dangers or create new risks. For example, if a terrorist is on a plane with a box cutter and he then grabs the pilot's gun, the pilot has made the terrorist more dangerous. If a gun is fired into a pressurized plane, the potential to hit an innocent bystander in the confined quarter or the potential of depressurization at high elevations make guns to dangerous. Guns are not the answer. Simply securing the door to the cockpit and therefore isolating the pilot form the passengers makes much more sense than a gun.

C. Transition -- I am sure there are some situations that need guns so maybe there are other options.

III. Discussion of second point

A. Topic sentence: Rubber or frangible bullets that self-destruct or disintegrate upon contact with a hard object may create a situation where guns could be considered safe enough.

B. Support for second argument

If pilots were to undergo SWAT like training and then be given only frangible bullets that are made up of special powdered alloys rather than lead or other metal bullets, then a pilot could consider carrying a gun. Softer metal…

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