On Monday, President Bush (R) signed into law the Homeland Security of Act of 2002, marking the most extensive federal re-organization since the creation of the Defense Department in 1947. Office of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge was named the new secretary-designate of the new Department of Homeland Security. This historic event helped establish one of NRA’s top priorities for the year—as language that would allow qualified commercial pilots to have access to firearms as a last line of defense against terrorist hijackers was included. Under the new law, training is set to begin by the end of February 2003 through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA will train pilots as "federal flight deck officers," which will include training equivalent to federal agents. The new law will also provide the approved pilots with the power to make arrests. Our thanks go out to all of our members who contacted their lawmakers and urged them to ensure the legislation that established the new Homeland Security Department included language that would establish an armed pilots program.
Bush Signs Homeland Security Bill — Includes Armed Pilots Program
Monday, December 2, 2002
Monday, June 22, 2026
On June 18, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion which unanimously narrowed the scope of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), which bans firearm acquisition or possession by anyone who is an “unlawful user” of a ...
Monday, June 22, 2026
Why is it that, after being told their gun laws are unconstitutional, so many areas under control of anti-gun extremists seem to respond with something along the lines of, “Oh yeah? Watch what we do next!”
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Anti-gun legislation continues advancing in Sacramento. This week, the Senate Public Safety Committee advanced Assembly Bills 1743 and 1753, while postponing consideration of AB 1810, the FFL Killer Bill, until June 23. On that same ...
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Yesterday, after immense pressure from sportsmen and women across the state, the provisions regarding Sunday hunting, crossbow hunting, and archery setbacks that were stripped from the House budget were added back to a bond bill.
Monday, June 15, 2026
Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney recently defended his government’s gun confiscation and “buyback” program, stating the government “has acted swiftly and decisively to combat gun crime” by removing “prohibited assault-style firearms from communities across ...
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