Permission Given to Shoot Down Planes

Re “National Guard to Help With Airport Security,” Sept. 28: President Bush tells me it’s OK to fly, that the planes are now safe . . . and then gives permission to his generals to shoot down any plane that has been hijacked? That’s supposed to make me feel safer? Isn’t that just what a terrorist would welcome with glee: “All I have to do is hijack the plane and Bush will do the rest.”

Marc Ray

Sherman Oaks

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Hundred of thousands of active duty and retired police officers nationwide seem ideal candidates for airline security. With training sponsored by the federal government and incentives like free air fare for police officers and their immediate families and a modest per flight payment, our skyways could be brought up to new safety levels quickly and cost-effectively.

Jack Bornoff

Studio City

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Am I the only one who thinks the new airport security precautions are pointless? Box cutters and nail clippers did not kill 6,000 people; it was access to the cockpit. If only pilots can open the cockpit door--and were not allowed to do so under any circumstance--we wouldn’t have to worry about repeating the tragic events of Sept. 11. I’ll take my chances against corkscrew-wielding terrorists, but I have no chance if they are at the controls.

Paul Schowalter

Cypress