Published September 5th, 2002
The Washington Post
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WASHINGTON - Despite concerns raised by the Bush administration and airlines, the Senate yesterday overwhelmingly voted to allow commercial pilots to carry guns in cockpits to prevent hijackings.
The 87 to 6 vote, on an amendment to a bill creating a Homeland Security Department, came after an intense lobbying effort by pilots, who have argued that security since the Sept. 11 hijackings has not improved enough to keep terrorists off their planes.
In July, the House approved, by a 310 to 113 vote, a separate measure giving pilots the right to have guns in cockpits.
Sen. Robert Smith (R-N.H.), a key sponsor of the Senate amendment, told reporters that the "overwhelming support" in both houses made him optimistic that Congress would pass a measure arming pilots. Supporters said differences between the House and Senate measures would be worked out in a conference committee on Homeland Security legislation, or the Senate would pass a stand-alone bill, if the Homeland Security bill should falter.
