A better alternative and one that I proposed to the White House privately is that the pilots be 'armed' with pepper spray. Sounds facile? Well it isn't. It can be very effective (moreso on a plane in flight than on ground) in subduing a hijacker. It poses little risk to other passengers and all crew members, including stewardesses may carry this secret weapon.

I dare anyone to look at this carefully and say pepper spray is not better than guns on a flight. What could happen is that this weapon could be further developed by the manufacturers to meet the most severe contingency. For example, there may be issues to do with compression, size of the spray, what have you. But guns in the hands of air marshalls who may go beserk just for the hell of it? What does that accomplish?