> -----Original Message-----
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> September 12, 2001
>
> CONTACT:
> Dr. Ignatius Piazza
> 1.800.987.7719
> Fax: 831.684.2137
> e-mail: info at frontsight.com
>
> FREE GUN TRAINING FOR COMMERCIAL PILOTS
>
> LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: In the aftermath of the World Trade
> Center attack, Front Sight Firearms Training Institute,
> which claims to be the world leader in providing intensified
> courses in the defensive use of firearms for private
> citizens and law enforcement alike, feels they have the
> answer to stopping commercial airliners from being used as
> ballistic missiles. Front Sight will train every commercial
> pilot in the world FREE OF CHARGE in the defensive use of
> the handgun. Front Sight will accept for training all
> certified pilots and co-pilots from all commercial airliners
> that submit a request for training on commercial airliner
> letterhead, designating the pilot and co-pilot to carry a
> handgun in the cockpit to defend access to the airliner. The
> request for training letter must have the notarized
> signature of the airline's chief executive.
>
> Front Sight's Founder and Director, Dr. Ignatius Piazza
> understands that his offer may offend those who lack resolve
> in stopping terrorists from turning airliners into weapons
> of mass destruction. However, he is quick to point out that
> the World Trade Center attack is a new realm of terror, not
> previously witnessed in the world. Prior to the World Trade
> Center attack, terrorists were content to hijack planes and
> divert them to safe landings in exchange for negotiated
> release of imprisoned comrades. In extreme cases, terrorists
> have committed suicide by exploding the grounded plane.
> Airliners have also been targeted with bombs and possibly
> missiles to spectacularly explode in flight, killing all on
> board. The World Trade Center attack was a new form of
> terrorism, where the commercial airliner, loaded with fuel
> for a cross country flight is redirected from the cockpit
> and turned into an accurate missile of mass destruction.
> Front Sight knows this form of terrorism can be stopped
> immediately by arming all pilots and co-pilots and training
> them in the proper methods of defending their cockpits.
>
> "Commercial airliners must be willing to take an
> uncompromising stand that will not allow anyone, under any
> circumstances to access the controls of an airliner," says
> Piazza. "The pilot and co-pilot, are responsible for the
> security of the cockpit. Without a handgun to defend it,
> the cockpit crew is easily defeated. However, when both
> pilot and co-pilot are armed and trained by Front Sight,
> they have the tools, ability, and will to defend themselves
> and repel the murderous intent of terrorists. In an
> emergency, the pilot can fly the plane to a safe landing
> while the co-pilot covers the door of the cockpit- ready and
> willing to use deadly force to prevent anyone from opening
> the door."
>
> Dennis Vied, a retired TWA Captain with 28 years of
> experience flying commercial airliners and Front Sight
> student fully agrees with Front Sight's solution. Captain
> Vied states, "The terrorists knew that they would face no
> opposition to the hijacking, once they managed to get on the
> airplane. All they had to do was threaten to do something to
> a passenger, and they would be allowed access to the
> cockpit. If that didn't work, then they just had to hurt
> somebody, which in this case they did. Apparently they cut
> the throats of two of the flight attendants. The terrorists
> knew they would face no armed opposition, because the
> airline screening process would insure that nobody on the
> airplane would be armed. We have such an abhorrence to guns
> that we fail to allow the good people to arm themselves for
> defense. Therefore they are at the mercy of bad people- in
> this case the terrorists. I sincerely hope that this is a
> wakeup call to America. I think they should arm the crews,
> or at least allow those that want to be armed to do so.
> Otherwise, you're at the mercy of some crazy son-of-a-bitch
> armed with a box cutter! How absolutely absurd! There is so
> much emphasis on prevention, and precious little emphasis on
> the ultimate lines of defense."
>
> Aaron Benedetti, a United Airline 747 co-pilot since 1990 is
> a Platinum member at Front Sight and has already attended
> Front Sight courses in defensive handgun, tactical shotgun,
> and practical rifle. Through Front Sight's training,
> Benedetti is ready, willing and able to defend the cockpit
> of his aircraft if given the proper tools and authority to
> do so. Benedetti states, "We get recurrent training
> regarding hijacking and security procedures, but the
> training centers around placating and negotiating with the
> terrorists to safely land the plane. We are told not to make
> any aggressive move and to work toward a calm outcome. The
> World Trade Center disaster is a real blind spot in our
> training. The attack reveals that perhaps the only way the
> pilots could have stopped it would have been to deny access
> to the cockpit and stop the terrorists from taking over the
> controls of the plane by any means possible. In the future,
> we should consider that with the cockpit doors locked and
> the co-pilot guarding the door with a handgun, calm
> negotiations can still take place via intercom to land the
> plane safely thus avoiding another World Trade Center
> scenario." Aaron Benedetti recommends all airlines to take
> advantage of Front Sight's solution and offer. He returns
> to Front Sight later his year for further training on his
> own.
>
> Lieutenant Bob Redmond, SWAT Commander of Nye County
> Sheriff's Department concurs that Front Sight's training is
> exactly what the commercial airliners need and that they
> should immediately begin sending their pilots to Front
> Sight. Redmond, who sends his SWAT officers to Front Sight
> for firearms and tactical training states, "Front Sight's
> training exceeds levels offered by most if not all law
> enforcement agencies throughout the country. Front Sight's
> training is so good that I want every officer we have in the
> department to attend every course Front Sight offers. If
> airlines sent their pilots to Front Sight, it would be like
> having SWAT officers in the sky."
>
> Mark Donovan, a pilot for Southwest Airlines, who has taken
> over ten Front Sight courses in the last two years finds the
> current situation of unarmed pilots rather incredulous.
> Donavan explains, "The political climate in commercial
> aviation prior to the World Trade Center attack has not been
> conducive to arming pilots. In fact, just the opposite has
> occurred. Airlines have disarmed pilots to the point where
> a terrorist with a box cutter can take over control of a
> plane because no one is armed to defend the plane or
> themselves. Yet, numerous federal agencies are allowed to
> carry a gun on commercial airlines, including such dubiously
> qualified agencies as, Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
> Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, and the
> Smithsonian Institution! Why are federal agents from these
> obscure agencies allowed to carry a gun on board when a
> pilot with firearms training from Front Sight Firearms
> Training Institute is not allowed? My training at Front
> Sight far exceeds anything the federal government offers to
> these agencies." Donovan continues, "If we, as pilots are
> not given the means and authority to defend our aircraft as
> a last means of defense, then who will? It is apparent that
> time was not available to negotiate with the madmen in the
> World Trade Center attack. Clearly, a properly trained
> flight crew with a handgun could have saved countless lives.
> Front Sight offers this training. I urge all federal
> decision makers to seriously examine Front Sight's solution
> to the problem. I believe it is the only credible answer to
> stopping another horrendous tragedy."
> Front Sight is the Solution to Gun Violence
>
> Piazza reiterates, "Front Sight is truly part of the
> solution to gun violence in this country. Everyone agrees
> that law enforcement should have the very best training
> available. Front Sight provides it. And everyone agrees,
> regardless of what side of gun control one stands, that if
> law abiding private citizens are going to own firearms they
> should be trained. Front Sight provides such training to
> levels that exceeds the law enforcement community. Front
> Sight now offers the solution to stopping and forever
> preventing another World Trade Center attack by training
> commercial airline pilots to be that last line of
> defense for their passengers, airline, and our country.
> Front Sight stands ready, willing, and able to serve."
>
> Dr. Ignatius Piazza 1.800.987.7719
> Front Sight Firearms Training Institute www.frontsight.com
> Captain Dennis Vied, retired TWA Pilot 925.455.0133
> Aaron Benedetti, United Airlines Co-Pilot 925.454.5214
> Lt.Bob Redmond, Nye County SWAT Commander 775.751.7002
> Mark Donovan, SouthWest Pilot 702.270.3912
>
>
>