On one hand, the gun shops are doing a brisk business and there were nearly 200 people at last Sunday's local target shooting rather then the 20-something who usually show up. On the other hand, some members of government are starting to sound like they wish to turn this country into a copy of that described in Orwell's book "1984." Really, this is getting way too close for comfort!

We have the socialist nut cases on the left, like House Minority leader Dick Gephardt, calling for federal ID cards and another round of gun-grabbing. Schumer & his socialist friends plan to sneak in an amendment to a bill that will force Americans to turn in a few types of guns that are currently well used. Many anti-liberty local officials around the country are planning to secretly install face recognition cameras in public areas and some federal officials have already proposed them for airports.

That fact is, many in government have always felt that the American people have too much freedom and that freedom, they feel, is detrimental to the efficient functioning of big government. Back in 1998, Congress approved draconian new surveillance powers so police could combat terrorism. What was the result of that? We saw on September 11. Nothing! So, now the federal government wants to extend and revise its police powers and, in so doing, violate even more of our Constitutional rights.

Notice, though, that nothing is ever mentioned of the negligence of the federal government leading up to the terrorism. Customs, FBI and INS officials all knew that those terrorists were in this country. They also knew that at least a couple of them had already been convicted for terrorism in other countries. And, they knew that some of them were living here illegally. Yet, they did nothing. Not one damn thing!

Now, in response to the horrendous attacks that occurred on September 11, Attorney General Ashcroft has proposed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001. Why? All that is necessary is to send all illegals home. Round them up and ship them out. And, by that we mean before they blow things up and kill people, not afterwards.

In some European countries, citizens are required to carry identity cards in public places. The federal government plans that for us now. The Netherlands, Spain, Britain, France, and Germany, all permit closed- circuit television in varying circumstances to be used by police to monitor streets and other public places. Federal officials now propose that. The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, all require citizens to register their home addresses with police or other authorities. The federal government will require the same thing, through the National ID card system.

In many ways, what is being requested is a "general search warrant" so police will not have to bother with the niceties of a court authorized warrant in many instances. They intend, in other words, to legislate direct violations of the U.S. Constitution.

And what assurances would the American people have that sacrificing Liberty would increase security? None. Absolutely none. Certainly not when we have a federal government that is totally negligent at protecting our boarders, anyway. Hundreds of tons of illegal drugs enter this country every year, as do hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens. That is where the bulk of the problem is.

Law abiding Americans need give up no Liberty for that supposed security bureaucrats so often promise. Instead, we must insist that federal agents accurately and completely protect our boarders against the ever-present breaches by foreigners. All illegal aliens must be found, arrested and deported. All legally resident aliens with criminal and terrorist pasts should be quickly evicted. Student visas should be very closely scrutinized. And all those students closely associated with communists, socialists and dictatorial fanatics attempting to attend universities here should be kept out.

Attorney General John Ashcroft speaks of a "clear and present danger" of terrorism in this country, yet proposes nothing to abate the source. It's time this "politically correct" approach to law enforcement ends. Careful screening of those allowed to enter this country would have prevented those terrorist attacks. While we are at war, the least we can do is to expel all their friends and associates.

For more on the problems in the proposed terrorist laws, see: "Analysis of Provisions of the Proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 -- Affecting the Privacy of Communications and Personal Information" by David Sobel and Mikal Condon at the Electronic Privacy Information Center.(1)

Then, tell Congress to protect our rights.

1. http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/ata_analysis.html

More information can also be found at:

http://www.cdt.org/security/010911response.shtml

Back in the March 29, 1998 issue(1) we published an article titled "For a more Perfect Police State." That piece described a preliminary report to the European Parliament titled, "An Appraisal of the Technology of Political Control." That report was completed, and was presented to the Committee on Civil Liberties and Internal Affairs.

They reported that: "The Interim Report aroused great interest and the resultant high-profile press comment throughout the European Union and beyond, indicates the level of public concern about many of the innovations detailed by the study. This current report is framed by the same key objectives as the Interim Report," including: Providing Members of the European Parliament with a reference guide to recent advances in the technology of political control. Identifying and describing the current state of the art technology of population control and the trends for use. And, informing the Parliament on the methods and means governments use for electronic eavesdropping on the civilian population.(2)

This material includes modern methods of crowd control, interrogation and torture, and is not recommended reading for the squeamish. However, most of this equipment was designed in the United States by order of the Department of Justice and/or the Pentagon.

If anyone still does not believe our government is gearing up to eavesdrop on our telephone and computer communications, they are not paying attention. Already, at least one corporation is selling its services to telephone companies and police agencies to spy on our communications in accordance with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). Their advertising reads in part:

"The time to comply with CALEA is fast approaching. Equipment costs, implementation deadlines, possible fines and litigation are a few of the issues adding complexity to this process for carriers.

"ADC NewNet offers the solution that allows carriers to meet CALEA requirements today. Our CALEAserver product helps take the time, effort and hassle out of becoming CALEA-compliant. CALEAserver from ADC NewNet provides lawful intercept delivery services that ensure network-proven, telco-quality wiretap access support. The telco hardened UNIX based, CALEAserver delivers a reliable, network-integrated solution. CALEAserver also supports multi-vendor switching environments via different access function interface connections, allowing you to meet all CALEA needs while keeping your existing infrastructure flexibility.

"ADC NewNet is the CALEA-compliance expert. We've worked with the FBI to ensure that all network requirements for access, delivery and collection of lawful intercept information are met. The result of these efforts is CALEAserver."(3)

One of the first acts of the Clinton (DoD Directive 3025.12, as amended) Administration was to prepare the military for civilian disturbances.

"This Directive reissues reference (a) to: 1. Update policy and responsibilities governing planning and response by the DoD Components for military assistance to federal, State, and local government (including government of U.S. territories) and their law enforcement agencies for civil disturbances and civil disturbance operations, including response to terrorist incidents, which hereafter are referred to cumulatively as 'Military Assistance for Civil Disturbances (MACDIS).'"(4)

In 1998, the White House National Security Council published its "National Security Strategy for a New Century" report. One paragraph in the Preface especially caught our attention:

"Protecting our citizens and critical infrastructures at home is an essential element of our strategy. Potential adversaries -- whether nations, terrorist groups or criminal organizations -- will be tempted to disrupt our critical infrastructures, impede government operations, use weapons of mass destruction against civilians, and prey on our citizens overseas. These challenges demand close cooperation across all levels of government -- federal, state and local -- and across a wide range of agencies, including the Departments of Defense and State, the Intelligence Community, law enforcement, emergency services, medical care providers and others. Protecting our critical infrastructure requires new partnerships between government and industry. Forging these new structures will be challenging, but must be done if we are to ensure our safety at home and avoid vulnerabilities that those wishing us ill might try to exploit in order to erode our resolve to protect our interests abroad."(5)

That brings us to PDD39, the FEMA Federal Response Plan for terrorism. This document is MUST reading for anyone who still thinks that FEMA is little more than an agency designed to aid American citizens during a natural disaster. FEMA takes charge of nearly everything, no matter what the disturbance may be. According to this report:

"FEMA is responsible for the coordination of the State and Federal agencies overseeing the [any major] incident."(7)

FEMA also controls the National Guard, the regular military and can take over anything else it wants to operate. The current (it changed recently) enacting law is 42 USC 5195.(7)

Check all this out and see what you think our public servants are up to. Then, look up the President's War and Emergency Powers and rethink the issue. The executive branch unilaterally gave itself enough power to set up a complete dictatorship any time it wishes.

Back in 1998, in an interview with the Army Times, Secretary of Defense William Cohen said that the threat of terrorism makes a military police state scenario plausible. "Terrorism is escalating to the point that Americans soon may have to choose between civil liberties and more intrusive means of protection."

That attitude has been tempered some with the new administration, but it is still prevalent.

1. http://209.15.142.23/reports/headsup/hu78.htm

2. http://www.jya.com/stoa-atpc-so.htm

3. http://www.newnet.com/press/archive.cfm#98

4. http://www.uhuh.com/laws/DODD3025_12.html

5. http://www.uhuh.com/laws/nssr98.htm

6. http://www.uhuh.com/laws/terror.htm

7. http://www.uhuh.com/laws/femalaw.htm

Last week there was much talk and testimony about airport and aircraft security and arming pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has required airports to beef up security screening and increase the number of bags they search. Yet, security screening is still far from 100 percent effective.

Security screening never will be perfect, either. For instance, last Wednesday in Atlanta a police officer went through the screening procedure and readied to board an aircraft. At the door, he realized he still had a little 22 handgun in his pocket. That was a mistake on his part. But, a fact of life is, terrorists will find some way to get through the security screening with "weapons."

Even though I am an airline captain, I went through security screening at an airport on Friday September 14, 2001. The security agent had me open my bag and he removed my shaving razor, extra razor blades, shaving cream, and hair spray. However, he did not remove a small knife that was in another compartment on the front flap of my soft- sided suitcase. Which means, I could not shave but I could cut someone's throat.

We must get well-paid professionals to perform the security screening, not minimum wage people whose turnover rate is 400 percent a year.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) President, Captain Duane Woerth, while testifying before congress last week, called for, among other things, placing a stronger door between the cockpit and the aircraft cabin. The proposed new door would have a dead bolt lock that can not be unlocked from the outside with a key. This amounts to a fortress cockpit.

Actually, that is not a bad idea. It would at least slow down any would-be hijacker. Still, I remember the words of General George Patton: "Field fortification and fortress are monuments built to the stupidity of man. If man can overcome things made by God, then he can overcome anything built by another man." Which means, chances are good that terrorists will think of a way to get through the cabin door.

ALPA president Captain Duane Woerth also suggested training and arming the pilots. He requested that the FBI screen and then train the pilots in the use of deadly force. This is also a very good idea. After all, most airline pilots are former military officers and have already had extensive training in the use of weapons.

The Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) permit the arming of pilots now. FAR Part 108.11(a)(1)(ii) states that: The person having the weapon is -- Authorized to have the weapon by the certificate holder (the airline) and the Administrator (FAA) and has successfully completed a course of training in the use of firearms acceptable to the Administrator (FAA).

Arming the pilots will not take anyone's freedom and rights away, we will not slide further down that slippery slope. But arming cockpit crews definitely would increase the safety of airline travel in this country.

Another FAR, Part 121.533 (d) says: "Each pilot in command (Captain) of an aircraft is, during flight time, in command of the aircraft and crew and is responsible for the safety of the passengers, crewmembers, cargo, and airplane." After the events of September 11, 2001, if the crew is not armed, how can the Captain of an aircraft act to perform his responsibility to protect the safety of the passengers and crew?

I recommend the pilots be armed with a specially made semiautomatic 22 magnum handgun with an eight round clip that is loaded with Glaser Safety Shells.(1) One reason I recommend that configuration is because the 22 magnum firing Glaser Safety Shells will easily down a perpetrator from close distances but the bullet is less likely than other types of bullets to penetrate, and/or cause destructive damage, to the aircraft. Such a firearm would also be easy to both conceal and shoot.

Additionally, as also recommended by ALPA to Congress, more Federal Air Marshals should be trained and fly on the domestic as well as international flights. Then, any would be terrorists would have many layers of security, including an armed pilot and a Federal Air Marshal, to penetrate before carrying out another attack on airlines in the United States.

David Buck is a retired U.S. Air Force pilot with over 4,000 hours in the B-52. A good part of his Air Force experience included using the B-52 for that which it was intended: war. He was also an instructor pilot in the B-52, and is currently a commercial airline captain with over 12,000 hours of total flying time.

Captain Buck holds a B.S. in mathematics and physics from Augusta College in Georgia and an M.S. in Aeronautical Science and an MBA in Aviation from Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University. Currently, he is an Adjunct Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he teaches Aerodynamics, Aircraft Stability and Control, Boeing 757 and 767 systems, Aircraft Safety and Accident Investigation, and 16 other aviation related courses at the master's level.

Please read and sign a petition to train and arm commercial airline pilots while they are on duty at: http://www.federalobserver.com Your life, or the life of one of your family or friends, might someday depend on the ability of a professional pilot to take immediate action against a hijacker. -- editor.

1. http://www.safetyslug.com

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