LEAA at Speaks Out at Senate Press Conference on Armed Pilots!

LEAA Spokesperson Kevin H. Watson speaks, along with Hall of Fame pitcher, Senator Jim Bunning R-KY (left) and Congressman Joe Wilson R-SC (right).

In response to the Transportation Security Administration's obstruction of the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) armed pilots program passed by Congress nearly two years ago, a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders has introduced sweeping new legislation that removes TSA's ability to further delay and stall the program.

LEAA has long been a part of the effort to arm America's airline pilots against terrorists and LEAA Spokesperson Kevin H. Watson joined a bipartisan group of Senate and House sponsors as well as pilots representatives from the Airline Pilots Security Alliance, Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations and the Independent Pilots Association in speaking on behalf of the legislation.

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Police Group Backs Corrections to Armed Pilots Program
LEAA Criticizes TSA’s Efforts to Undermine Public Safety Program

Washington DC ­ Retired Police Officer James J. Fotis, Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) applauded a bipartisan effort by Congress to force the Transportation Security Administration to implement the armed pilots program as originally intended.

Said Fotis, “For nearly two years, the TSA has fought to block, delay and obstruct the will of Congress with regard to the Federal Flight Deck Officers (FFDO) program, at the same time, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has told Congress that the number of Sky Marshals has been decreasing and will continue to do so through 2005.”

LEAA appeared with U.S. Senators Jim Bunning (R- KY), and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) at a Capitol Hill press conference today to present new legislation that would force the Transportation Security Administration to comply with the armed pilots law. TSA had implemented numerous hurdles in order to stall the program passed by Congress and signed into law by the President.

TSA had required that pilots pass “psychological exams” on the absurd notion that someone might not be trustworthy enough to possess a firearm, but that same person is perfectly ok to be in complete control of a commercial jetliner full of passengers.

LEAA’s Fotis concluded, “When the government admits that we are losing sky marshals, when college students can smuggle box cutters aboard commercial airliners, even when they’ve emailed TSA and told them, there is simply no excuse for TSA to continue to obstruct the law and block the armed pilots program. TSA may not like this legislation, but they’ve brought it upon themselves with their stubborn refusal to comply with the armed pilots law.”

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With over 75,000 Members and Supporters nationwide, the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) is the nation’s largest coalition of law enforcement professionals, crime victims, and concerned citizens dedicated to making America safer

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