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Editor's note: The following letter was written to Rep. JoAnn Emerson.

I strongly urge you to cosponsor common-sense legislation introduced by Rep. Ron Paul last week. H.R. 2896 would allow airplane pilots to use firearms to defend the lives of their passengers against crazed terrorists.

Reports by the media indicate the pilots in last Tuesday's tragedy were overpowered by attackers armed only with knives. The thousands of deaths from this tragedy were made possible because those capable of defending against such an attack (the pilots and crew) were disarmed by our current laws and security policies. Had the pilots of those doomed aircraft had access to firearms, these attacks could have been thwarted and thousands of American lives saved.

I truly believe that freedom will save lives. I keep hearing government officials say that Americans must give up their freedoms so that law enforcement can stop terrorists. The problems is that we have already given up too much freedom. The fact that pilots - many of whom have prior military training - do not have the freedom to defend the lives of their passengers on board is absurd.

Gun control once again has contributed to the loss of innocent lives. Haven't we learned the lessons that allowing good people to carry guns will deter criminals (and terrorists) from perpetrating their evil deeds? Whenever a state or country allows good people to carry guns, crime rates go down. Wherever guns are banned, like in Washington, D.C., and in England, crime rates go up.

So, I urge you, in the strongest way, to cosponsor the Paul legislation, which will save American lives. I also urge you to vote against any legislation that would further restrict the liberties of all Americans.

As Sen. Phil Gramm said last week, "We are hearing a lot of talk today abut what we can do to be safer. I want to be safe. But, let me make it clear, I don't want to change our way of life. I want to change their way of life. If we start infringing on our own freedom, if we start limiting our own freedom to move about our country and engage in our business and live our lives, then we are giving up what this war is about. We want to change their lives...."

I agree with Senator Gramm. Let's punish the enemy and not America.

Very truly yours,

James M. McClellan