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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2002
From: Dr. Ignatius Piazza
Front Sight Firearms Training Institute
www.frontsight.com

Dear Students and Friends of Front Sight,

As those of you who have followed Front Sight Founder’s Society
efforts to arm America’s commercial pilots (See Arm Our Pilot’s
Campaign at www.frontsight.com) witnessed, Front Sight played an
important role in being the first in the nation to demand that
commercial pilots be armed to defend the cockpit against
terrorist attack.

We followed up the demand with an offer to train any commercial
pilot FREE OF CHARGE who was authorized to carry a gun to defend
the cockpit.

We then spent over $100,000 to spread the word through national
press releases, mailings, television and radio commercials, and
Washington DC lobbying efforts.

We wrote an Armed Pilots Curriculum and sent it to the
appropriate government agencies to show them how extremely
effective (and inexpensive) Front Sight training really is.

We trained numerous Chief Pilots and key, airline industry union
personnel free of charge so they could positively report back to
their respective management teams that arming pilots was the
smart thing to do.

Both the House and the Senate passed nearly unanimous bills to
arm pilots. Unfortunately, the Joint Committee then sent a
watered down version to President Bush, who signed a bill that
placed authority to arm the pilots in the hands of
Transportations Secretary Norm Mineta. Mineta opposed the idea
of pilots being the last line of defense to prevent a terrorist
from taking over the plane, but supports the administrations’s
stance of using F16 fighter planes to shoot down highjacked commercial
airliners.

Even after EVERY poll ever taken on the subject and the largest
letter writing campaign in recent memory proved the VAST MAJORITY
of Americans favor arming pilots, Mineta and his agency stated
they would not arm pilots.

At this point, Front Sight felt the greatest power was truly in
the hands of the pilots to determine whether or not they ever
receive the authorization to carry a handgun to defend the
cockpit against terrorist attack. We supported whatever actions
the pilots and their unions felt was appropriate.

We assigned our Washington DC lobbyist to assist the Airline
Pilots Security Alliance in their efforts to work with key
members of Congress to draft the appropriate legislation to take
control of the Armed Pilots Program OUT OF THE HANDS of the
Transportation Secretary and into the hands of the pilots.

We continue to fund lobbying efforts on behalf of the pilots.
Front Sight has maintained a behind the scenes approach to help
APSA pilots ultimately have the final say as to whether the
planes leaves the gate or not.

Fortunately, the combined efforts of all involved are paying off.

A new Armed Pilots Bill in the House recently passed and a
similar version has been introduced in the Senate.

See the latest Airline Pilots Security Alliance press release
below and support our efforts by continuing to place calls to
your Senator urging their immediate support.

Please support Front Sight Founder’s Society as well. Your
financial support allows us provide greater assistance this very
important cause. Unlike most requests for funding, you will see
that Founder’s Society gives you equal value for your
contribution in the form of training certificates at Front
Sight. No other organization offers such value for your
contribution. See Founder’s Society at www.frontsight.com.

Ignatius Piazza

APSA Responds to DOT Announcement on Arming Pilots

Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta announced today that the TSA
is now studying options for arming pilots with lethal force.

APSA Board of Directors members are available for interviews and
comment on this change in the DOT position.

Capt. Tracy Price, APSA Chairman said, “APSA is pleased to see
the change that DOT is undergoing and their new willingness to
consider arming pilots with lethal force. This common-sense
measure has overwhelming support in both houses of congress,
among professional airline pilots and with the American people.
It is hard to believe that it has taken this long to change the
thinking of some at DOT; airline pilots and the American people
have recognized the necessity for armed pilots since we saw
airliners being flown into buildings on September 11th.”

Price concluded, “Removing the solid resistance to arming pilots
that has been in place at DOT and TSA will help us to get our
bill passed in the Senate, as we did in the House. We will
continue to work to get our bill through the Senate and signed
into law. It appears that TSA and DOT are starting to recognize
the inevitability of this legislation and we are glad that they
are making preparations to implement it.”

APSA Announces D.C. Rally and Press Conference on Thursday, July
25th. APSA, along with the Allied Pilots Association, will hold a
rally at 9:00am on Thursday, July 25th at the NEW Senate swamp
across from the Russell Senate Office building. Immediately after
the Senate Commerce Committee hearings on arming pilots, there
will be a press conference in which APSA supporter Ellen Saracini
- the widowed wife of Captain Vic Saracini who died on United
flight 175 that was flown into WTC Tower 2 on 9/11 – will respond
to the hearings. Mrs. Saracini was denied the opportunity to
testify at the hearings and she will comment on this attempt to
silence the victims of 9/11. Capt. Tracy Price, APSA Chairman and
Capt. Philip Bealle of APA will also make statements and answer
questions.

Go to APSA Web Site: www.secure-skies.org for latest details on
how to support their efforts through contacting your
representatives.

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