Personally, I wish everyone who was legally entitled to carry a weapon (firearm if you wish) could do so anywhere in the country, including the airlines. Those of us who don't present a danger to other law-abiding individuals outnumber those who do. As a commercial pilot, I often am armed in my plane.

The World Trade Center Buildings would still be standing if that were the case. Likely, no shot would have been fired, even more likely, the vermin would have not have chosen to attempt the hi-jack knowing that. And before you do the knee jerk response, a bullet through the fuselage doesn't cause depressurization of a pressurized airplane even with a missed shot. There is an over-abundance of bleed air.

By legally entitled, that means sober and mentally competent, and not a criminal, having passed a background check.

I certainly don't agree that only law enforcement should have weapons, as we have had plenty of criminals or domestically violent LEOs caught and convicted for various felonies. A not insignificant number of LEOs go into that career because they like the power of the uniform.

I don't hunt game, I respect those who do, but I enjoy shooting competitively for accuracy with rifles, speed and accuracy with pistols, as well as Trap, Sporting Clays, and Skeet with my shotgun. Those are freedoms I won't give up without a fight.

I have been on the wrong side of a gun in a robbery and have been armed ever since. I have had break-ins at my house twice, and have exercised restraint when chasing the thug to not shoot him. I have been chased down by someone just for passing through his neighborhood bearing a tag from another county, with him jumping out and beating on my car window at the first light I stopped at and screaming at me to stay out of his neighborhood. I didn't shoot him either, although I was prepared to do so if the window had broken and I felt my life was in immediate danger. I do insist on having the option. Each time gun control was in play and everyone lived. It is not a guaranteed outcome, but each instance of a threat must be taken seriously and with as much thought as the time allows.

Gun shows here require everyone, including the exhibitors, to check their firearms and have the action locked to prevent a cartridge from being loaded. The eight year old would never have been able to fire a shot in my state. His irresponsible father would have had to do that at another time away from the show. Stupid has no limitations.