----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
Kevin,
Here is my Email to Mr Meeks, I "thought" I was presenting a very calm
view
point:
Mr. Meeks,
The subject of small general aviation aircraft and security comes up again
and again. And I guess many non-aviators may actually scratch their head
and
think that it is a point well made. Well they would be wrong, and
mis-informed by the press.
And the example of the crashed Cessna hanging from the window of the
building in Florida helps to illustrate my point. Much more damage would
have been done if he had driven the family SUV into the lobby instead of
flying the light flimsy aluminum airplane into the side of the building
resulting in little more that some broken windows and cracked fascia.
Why this talk about screening GA operations? The tried and true weapon of
choice for terrorist here and abroad is the truck bomb. I don't see any
journalist advocating federal screening at the Ryder or U-Haul rental
counters. Why? Simple, that would impact too many innocent Americans. The
body of sportsman pilots is much too small to have a major impact on any
decision making or hurt ratings.
It is easy to see that a 4500 lb SUV has much more kinetic energy than a
1500 lb airplane and many times the load carrying capacity. Now hitch up
the
RV to the SUV and now you have easily doubled or tripled the yield of that
rolling weapon. Simply put, it has the potential to be a much more lethal
weapon. Would you want to advocate Federal screening for owners of Ford
Expeditions and Chevy Suburbans? Just think of the horror that could be
wrought on us all if soccer moms decided to haul something in those
mini-vans other than children.
It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it. We all trust the soccer moms, and our
neighbors with their big trucks and Winnebagos. But those
pilots...they're
different, got to watch them, maybe restrict their movements.
You spoke of "low hanging fruit" in the article. I would offer that
writing about and sensationalizing the possible threat of light sport
aircraft is journalistic low hanging fruit. It is very easy to spin, may
even scare the misinformed. And you only offend the pilots, the ones who
know better. Maybe their numbers are too few to worry about.
I live in America where I am free to traverse county and state borders in
my
SUV, Airplane, or boat without being investigated by the Federal
government.
Please do not write articles advocating that these freedoms be taken away.
Too many Americans have fought and died to ensure that we have these
rights.
Once they are gone, we will not get them back...without a fight. Mr.
Meeks,
what do you drive and how many pounds of explosives could you transport
with
it? Are you a threat?
Mitch Hines
Alon A-2 Aircoupe
N6369V
Flight by machines heavier than air is unpractical
and insignificant, if not utterly impossible.
- Simon Newcomb, 1902
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Gassert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Georgia Trehey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Mitch Hines"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
<[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 1:49 PM
Subject: RE: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Poor press for our General Aviation
I did not receive Mitch's response but I did send Mr. Meeks an email on
his response. Mitch, please send me your response to read. No matter
what is in it I can't justify such a nasty response from a "journalist".
Kevin
-----Original Message-----
From: Georgia Trehey [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 1:44 PM
To: Mitch Hines; [email protected]
Subject: Re: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Poor press for our General Aviation
----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following
any advice in this forum.]----
Wow Mitch!
Not only is he an idiot, he is a nasty asshole to
boot. Your letter was polite and logical. His is
the one foaming at the mouth. Very unprofessional and
his bosses need to know.
Spook
--- Mitch Hines <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm
> before following any advice in this forum.]----
>
>
> Thanks Vern,
>
> Mr. Meeks did not think it was a an excellent
> response, he was quit nasty in
> his reponse. See Below:
>
>
> From: "Meeks, Brock (MSNBCi)"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 10:07 AM
> Subject: RE: "Big holes seen in aviation security"
>
>
> > I didn't f'ing "senationalize" a goddamn thing. I
> reported only what the
> > GAO said and then as I'm sure you say, I reported
> the AOPA side, as well,
> > saying the same thing you said here, only they
> took far fewer words and
> were
> > less foaming at the mouth than yourself.
>
> Yeah, he appears to be a real pro.
>
> --Mitch
>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard
http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree
========================================================================
======
To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/
==========================================================================
====
To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
Search the archives on http://escribe.com/aviation/coupers/
<<attachment: winmail.dat>>
