Originally Posted by Boraxo
There is a difference between compassion and insanity. Compassion means locking up mental cases where they can't hurt themselves or others. Insanity means permitting obviously deranged people to fly when they may become delusional and take down a plane.
I don't think you've thought this through very carefully. There was no way this mentally ill person was going to be able to "take down a plane". Just how do you think that this mentally ill person was going to "take down a plane"? You do realize that opening an emergency exit while in flight is well nigh impossible?
Particularly once the mentally ill person was handcuffed and restrained securely, I don't see what threat you think he posed.
If he pulls a hatch midflight he should be restrained or shot.
Restrained, yes. Shot? I find that attitude depressing. I don't see any reason to shoot them, if you can restrain them by other means.
Obviously, you use all necessary force needed to ensure that they are not a threat -- but I would think that the force should be proportionate to the risk (and NOT proportionate to the fear or to people's emotions).
But let's not start this debate again.
I don't recall having this debate before, but it sounds like we need to have it now.