Constitutional Law

Did TSA rules cause the cockpit pistol discharge?

Here's the story, in the Washington Times. Transportation Safety Admin. was extremely reluctant (downright passive-aggressive) on allowing pilots to carry. The story is unclear, but it sounds as if TSA required any gun to be trigger-locked every time the cockpit door is opened, which can be ten times per flight. Of course one problem with trigger locks is that they can pull the trigger while being inserted.

Interesting... the Times story appeared two days ago. But the only MSM pick-up of the issue that I can find is the Charlotte Observer.

UPDATE: a couple of comments pointed out this story, which has a picture of the TSA-mandated rig. It's absolutely insane. Only a government agency could devise a "safety procedure" like this one. It's some sort of a holster with a round hole thru it in the trigger area, thru which the user has to thread a padlock. The trigger itself is not visible during the process, but if the lock goes thru the trigger guard ahead of the trigger, an accidental discharge would be almost certain. The rig is designed to make ADs almost certain, over time.

Oh, and the author of that page was warning, back in December that "None of the law enforcement firearms trainers I?ve talked to view this padlock holster as anything more that a hazard to all but terrorists ..."

Full post as published by Of Arms and the Law on March 30, 2008 (boomark / email).