The Senate approved an amendment offered by Sen. John Breaux, D-La., to study the use by flight crews of nonlethal weapons to disable would-be hijackers. After the Carnahan debate broke down, the Senate also quickly agreed to two amendments; [b]to allow pilots to carry firearms[/b] and to put airport security under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice.

Quoted:
Good deal. If this is a war, then pilots are in combat, whether it's a military uniform or not. They at least should be able to carry the Berettas we had as mission crew when we went into combat zones.

Many of the people who are buying guns now are those who would not normally buy a gun in the past, Hoffman said, such as lawyers and doctors...

Pistol sales are restricted to people who have pistol permits, which take 90 days to get. There is also a two week wait to purchase a shotgun or rifle if the purchaser does not have a hunting permit.

Even when people with permits and licenses do purchase weapons, Hoffman said, background checks are required before the weapon can be handed over to them.

"A lot of people thought they could just walk in and buy (guns)," Irvine said, adding that many would-be gun buyers were shocked by the restrictions.