Armed pilots less of a threat than armed fighter jets

To the editor:

Am I the only one to be struck by the ludicrous nature of the debate on allowing airline pilots to carry guns in cockpits? Let's see: It is insane and too dangerous to arm the pilots so they can defend their planes and passengers because in the event of a hijack attempt an innocent passenger may be injured. But it is sane and safe to keep armed fighter jets in the air at all times to shoot down the airliner and kill everyone onboard in the event of a successful hijacking?? As my favorite Democrat, James Traficant, would say, "Beam me up, Scotty."

It strikes me as being nothing but a tactic employed by the rabid anti-gun crowd, because to admit there is a legitimate reason to have armed civilians takes a lot of credibility out of their arguments.

ROBERT A. CRON

Advance, Mo.