The Last Resort

So, the 9-11 commission is now investigating whether the hijacked airplanes could have been shot from the sky.

"NORAD (North American Air Defense Command) officials have maintained that they would have intercepted and shot down United 93. We are not so sure," the report said.

For the sake of argument, let's assume that shooting a plane full of innocent civilians out of the sky with a sidewinder missile is the "last resort." How, then, could anyone argue that the pilot of the airplane should not be mandated to carry a sidearm as the "next to last resort." If I were a passenger, I would prefer the opportunity to risk a couple stray 9mm bullets before I have to face off with an F-15.