What the shipping company's ought to do is hire mercenary's. It would be cheaper than paying off the pirate's or the insurance company's. They wouldn't even have to tell anybody their doing it. This isn't any different than the company policy at your 7/11 or local convienence store, if it's not a mom and pop store. They tell their workers, you can't carry a firearm. Why should they, it's not their overpaid executive butt staring down a pistol barrel. In every instance,that I've ever read about, or heard about,mine included, having a gun was better than not. Real easy when your a thousand miles away in a safe environment, to say, don't fight. Give in. One of these times the pirates won't be so nice,beheading,rape,thrown overboard. I guess when that happens, and only then, will somebody take action. Too bad somebody innocent will probably die before measure's are taken.gypsyman