Washington, D.C. – December 2024– Today, Gun Owners of America, in partnership with Guns Out TV, released a film documenting the fight in Washington, D.C. following 9/11 to arm airline pilots and deter future hijackers from carrying out mass casualty attacks on planes.
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Featuring GOA staff and several of the pilots who were involved in the lobbying efforts, the film starts by highlighting the passage of gun control legislation in the 1980s that stripped pilots of their right to carry onboard flights. Subsequently, it documents the battle in Washington after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to re-arm pilots and ensure that such a tragedy could never happen again.
Despite stiff headwinds, the legislation did ultimately pass as part of the Department of Homeland Security Act in 2002. By establishing the Federal Flight Deck Officer Program, Congress allowed DHS to deputize and train pilots to carry firearms and defend aircraft cockpits with deadly force against attempted criminal and terrorist acts.
This documentary will be available via GOA’s YouTube channel and social media platforms. The film is being released today to mark the 22nd anniversary of the passage of the legislation itself.
John Velleco, GOA’s Executive Vice President, issued the following statement:
“GOA is proud to have put so much time and effort into this production, and for me, this victory always gives me a tremendous sense of personal pride. 9/11 may never have happened had pilots been armed, but through our no-compromise lobbying efforts, we did our part to make sure it can never happen again.”
Tracy Price, a pilot featured in the film and a founding member of the Airline Pilot Security Alliance, added:
“On September 11, 2001, we saw the tragic results of the disarming of airline pilots in 1988. Gun Owners of America, a few dedicated airline pilots, and the entire Second Amendment community came together to close this gaping hole in airline security. Today, airline pilots fly armed—just as they did from the earliest days of airline flying until 1988–providing the first line of deterrence and the final line of defense against any person or group that might ever again dare try to use airliners as weapons against our country.
“This common-sense measure has proven to be efficient, safe, and very effective, as no such attack has since been attempted. Airline pilots across the U.S. are grateful to GOA and the gun rights community for their support in this effort, and we collectively resolve that we will never again be placed in a position of having control of our airplanes taken from us by those with evil intent.”
GOA spokesmen are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.
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