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Mayhem, Bankruptcy and User Fees

Frequent TFL commenter Tarvok commented on my last blog The Mid-air OK Corral. He says that some have busted the myth that discharging a gun in a jetliner doesn't necessarily lead to cabin decompression. I'm not sure if it can't lead to that or not. Having once been a frequent flyer, I can say that I'm generally pleased that guns are for the most part banned from flights. The potential for strays seem awfully high in those close quarters. Guns used to be used by hijackers to commandeer planes...that's a fact. I have no problem with the government banning them in the skies. At the moment, the skies are part of the commonwealth, with government its steward. I suppose there's a theoretical case that the skies can be privately owned, but such a system of property rights would require much evolution in thinking. We're nowhere near that now.

As I said initially, "In the long run, I’d surely prefer private solutions to the challenge." I'm not sure how much general revenues go toward airport security, but there surely are user fees now. Every ticket is charged one. It makes utter sense that the flyers should bear the full cost of flying security and the taxpayers none.

Most of the airlines are bankrupt NOW. Bankruptcy courts put very tight constraints on capital spending. Expecting the largely reeling airline industry to take on such a massive undertaking as Gregory suggests seems ill timed.

So, the main point is, sure, there's a case for privatizing just about everything, including airport security. If -- in doing so -- a writer suggests that that might mean passengers should be armed, I'm pretty sure that few will salute the concept. Indeed, I don't. It's a prescription for mayhem in the skies. I for one would not like to see 9/11 repeated.

-Robert Capozzi

Posted by Robert Capozzi on September 19, 2006 06:14 AM |

Free-for-all (frfr-ôl) -- n. A disorderly fight, argument, or competition in which everyone present participates.

from Dictionary.com



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