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Air Force wants handguns; Moseley a .357 man

Add handguns to the weapons that the Air Force wants to buy as part of a $7 billion fiscal 2007 supplemental budget.

In testimony before a congressional subcommittee in February, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley testified that, in addition to funds to replace lost aircraft, the additional money would go toward “day-to-day ops and personnel costs, contracts logistics support, depot maintenance, aviation fuel, vehicles force protection and handguns,” according to a transcript of the Feb. 12 hearing.

Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, told Moseley and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne that the committee hopes to help the Air Force increase its aircraft strength.

“And one other comment, you mentioned handguns,” Murtha said, then observed that he has heard from all the services that a substitute for the Beretta may be needed because “I hear you’ve got to put two or three shots in a person before you’re able to stop them [with a Beretta].”

Noting that the Air Force has increasing numbers of airmen on the ground in Iraq, Murtha said he hopes the services can come up with something as an alternate to the Beretta.

“That may sound like a minor thing. But if you’re on the ground and somebody’s after you, it’s a pretty major …”

“Sir, it’s a big deal,” Moseley added. “If you have to pull that side arm you just as soon kill the person.”

Asked by Murtha what he carried in theater; Moseley said a .357.

“Because I figure, if I have to pull a sidearm, I really don’t want to mess [around],” he said.