Lawsuit Filed To Carry Weapons In Atlanta Airport

ATLANTA — The nation's busiest airport dueled with gun rights advocates Tuesday over whether a new Georgia state law allows visitors to carry firearms at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

City officials in charge of the airport declared it a "gun-free zone" when a law allowing people to carry guns on public transit and other places took effect Tuesday. Gun rights supporters, including a state legislator who helped pass the law, quickly filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the designation.

"My message is simple: Leave your firearms at home," airport general manager Ben DeCosta told reporters at a news conference.

Atlanta officials said anyone carrying a gun at the airport could be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor.

The new state law allows people with a concealed weapons permit to carry guns into restaurants, state parks and on public transportation.

John Monroe, an attorney for the gun rights backers who filed the lawsuit, argued the Atlanta airport qualifies as public transportation. There are also restaurants in the terminal, which Monroe said should be accessible to gun-toting visitors under the new law.

Rep. Tim Bearden, a Republican from Villa Rica and a former police officer, is a plaintiff in the lawsuit. Bearden sponsored the state law.

He had told a newspaper he would carry a concealed weapon to the airport Tuesday when he picked up his family. But he told The Associated Press by telephone Tuesday morning, "There will be no reason for any confrontation at the airport."

The gun group argues that weapons should be allowed in the terminal up to the point where passengers pass through security to board their flights. The parking lot is off limits under the state law, but it allows travelers to carry a gun on MARTA trains and buses, which run directly to the airport.

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin said citizens can't bring guns into the terminal and argued that airports remain attractive targets for terrorism.

Allowing citizens to carry firearms "would create an environment that would endanger millions of people," she said.

Franklin said she will lobby Congress to withhold federal funds from facilities that allow firearms on their premises.

Comments

[cobobs]

New opportunity:

Express No Gun Buses:

New York-Atlanta
D.C.-Atlan­ta

Atlanta to border of Georgia, then you surrender your piece.

Because people will avoid Hartfield if this carries.

[MichiganJFrog]

"JohnhusseinCT See Profile I'm a Fan of JohnhusseinCT

Hit_ler was leader of the National SOCIALIST party. Facts, silly facts get in the way, always.
Reply Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:37 PM on 07/01/2008"

And it's the People's Republic of North Korea.
That means Lil Kim is a Republican, right?

Bwahahahah­ahahahaha!

Moran!

[HumeSkeptic]

JohnhusseinCT's knowledge of political systems is better only than a chihuahua's, and only slightly.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

The real question is, why would anyone be so obsessed with another user, that they would take their name and be their name tro//?

[starfire426]

OK...we've lost it...handg­uns in airports. This law is about as stupid as the one in VA where you can take a gun into a BAR!!! Go figure.

[Henk]

Did bouncers all get a big raise when that one passed? If not they should have.

[CaptainVideo]

People should now sue for the right to carry guns into the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, and, of course, the White House. Maybe that will finally make our lawmakers to think twice about what they are doing in turning this country into a shooting gallery.

[ProudNeoCon]

People read the article. nobody is talking about bringing guns on the plane or in the secure areas.

I am pro-gun rights, but I believe that those rights (like others) have limits. However, what is the difference between bringing gun to the non-secure area in airport and bringing a gun to train station or mall?

[Yvaughn]

Actually, I'm also uncomfortable with guns in train stations and malls, but I'm willing to agree to disagree on that one.

To me, there are a couple of extra problems with airports. One is that business about the guns not being allowed in the airport parking lot--are they going to be teleported into the non-secure airport area? Another is that a huge number of the people there aren't natives, and thus are going to be (rightly?) wigged out, realizing they're flying into Dodge City--it makes the natives seem far more threatening (whether they are or not) than is good for any tourist board. Then there's the high level of stress in most airports (just ask the ticket agents!) Another is that in most airports I know, the restaurants--which is one of the points of contention in the article--are BEYOND the security check. And another is that everyone is already very stressed out about possible violence. Saying you HAVE a gun loudly enough, even on the unsecure side of the security check, is enough reason to get cuffed.

While people who advocate concealed-carry laws argue that if they're armed, they could take out the bad guys faster (ie the 1980's Luby's case in Texas), until now, nobody's opened fire in a crowded airport. If it happens after this policy, I'd have to say that the lax gun policy is more the cause than the defense.

[JulieSA]

Guns are allowed in the non-secure area of my city's area, and no one bats an eye. We have a huge tourist industry, and no one is freaked about it being Dodge City, so some of the dituations you fear exist oly in your imagination.

Arianna is always railing against people who fearmonger, but this stupid headline is a perfect example of whipping up fear, based on something something that hasn't caused a problem. HuffPo is trying to scare you into voting for a gungrabber like Obama.

[WFV]

I'm afraid, pehaps, none if you have a concealed weapons permit. I hope there are plans to tighten the permitting process.

[JulieSA]

Why? You undergo a two-month FBI background check and training to get the permit.

[Henk]

Really what's the difference it there are hundreds, thousands of guns wandering around just outside the secure areas of an airport. We all know how efficient the TSA is right? So just because there is a huge increase in numbers that doesn't mean that there is a corresponding increase in the likelihood of a gun sneaking by the highly paid proffessionals manning the TSA check points.

And no terrorist would ever think of using a "flood the zone" strategy in an attempt to get a gun on board a jetliner.

No way does this law make anyone less safe. I really really wish it was easier to fly Delta here in Minneapolis so I could fly through Atlanta more often a feel the love all that blued steel produces.

[JulieSA]

My earlier comment didn't go through, but you're absolutely right. There's no difference. Where i live guns are not prohibited in the non-secure areas of the airport.

This screaming red headline is ridiculous fearmongering. NO ONE is suggesting permitting guns past the TSA checkpoint.

[lornejl]

I'm an Independent, I'm not quite sure how I feel about guns in airports, or the war in Iraq, or torture, or wiretapping.

[Henk]

No worries, politicians are falling all over themselves pandering to you, no matter what your opinion. So you really don't need one.

[WFV]

YEEEEEEEE HAAAAA!

Scary stuff.

[lessbs]

The reich wing in the deep south (where a high school degree may make you the most educated person in your family's history) pulls this stunt on a fairly routine basis. The 10 commandments on the courthouse wall was another typical example. They know that it won't fly, they hope the most hated organization among these goof balls-the ACLU-will fight it in court, and they can then run for some dogcatcher office against the ACLU taking away everybody in dip sh*t hollar's rights. Don't you wish the Confederacy would have been successful in breaking away and we wouldn't have these nutcases affecting our lives?

[gallonjug]

You kidding?! The prospect of a CSA is terrifying. Bankrupt, segregated, polluted to hell and armed to the teeth. No, thank goodness for planet earth the grown-ups won that one.

[gmhussein]

You are not kidding. Anyway we can secede from them now.? What on earth is the matter with people that they feel the need to carry weapons everywhere they go thus endangering the rest of us. Good grief, have people in Georgia lost their marbles?

What you need would you have for a gun in a restaurant? to shoot the chef if you dont like your meal?? Or in a theatre? Would these kind of people ever venture there? Members of my family travel there on a regular basis for business, we all like Atlanta and surrounding area. My husband's family came from there and I feel so sad it has come to this. Georgia is a beautiful state, has many fine areas to visit, now I will think twice before going again. How very sad.

[shengirl]

Guns in airports, guns in restaurants, guns in theaters, bars and national parks. Where's the "well regulated militia" in all of this?

[mimsnpips]

Good point. The representative in GA never studied that part of the constitution with his 6'th grade diploma.

[99hockeyman]

He was a classmate of Jethro Bodine

[shengirl]

Guns in airports, guns in restaurants, guns in national parks and theaters and bars. Where's the "well regulated militia" in all of this?

[andvoodoo2]

Blackwater is alive and well and growing every day.

[HumeSkeptic]

Scalia says that each individual qualifies as well-regulated militia. He also said that handguns are good because you can hold it with one hand, and make a phone call with the other.

That genius has never heard of speaker phones.

[lornejl]

I gun down intruders while I yak on the blue tooth, try it, I highly recommend.

[CaptainVideo]

Scalia is definitely one of the worst "Justices" that the Supreme Court has ever had.

[cafemocha]

One hand to blow away society's trash, the other to take pictures and upload to your facebook and share with friends. Here's what's next: a Hands-free Hand gun!
Voice activated, "Shoot the bad guy... shoot again... NO, not the sad guy, not the dad guy, shoot the BAD guy...". Oops, it shot the fat guy.

[Thron]

So soon I will be able to go to the duty free area with my friends Smith and Weston. You better watch out suspicious looking like strangers when you put your hand in your pocket, 'cause we might think you got bad intentions­...Lol.

[davidsnotinvolved]

Maybe this would work:

Every child should be given a handgun when they reach age sixteen.

Then in order to buy the bullets for the handgun, they'll have to register with their local police department.
In order to get a valid registration, you'll have to be checked out on the police firing range.

Then every year you come back to make sure you qualify.

[kellygrrrl]

Oh, hey! lookie there -- Jr. rockin' the Fist Bump

lolz

[Kalima]

I was giving one of those in my dream last night. I'll have to stop coming here, my
hand hurts.

[HumeSkeptic]

Ironically, we'll be safe from gun nuts at airports because of "terrists".

.

[VolvoBirkenstock]

JohnhusseinCT
Who is portajon, I was illuminati
Flagged Posted 09:36 PM on 07/01/2008

...and illuminati was banned for posting links to g a y p o r n.

[dentuso]

Somehow that doesn't surprise me. He's a real "gun" enthusiast, you know.

[HumeSkeptic]

So, you are telling us is JohnhusseinCT has been BANNED TWICE, first as portajon and then as illuminati ?

And you are telling us that JohnhusseinCT has defied the HUFFPOST posting policy, and is still posting despite having been BANNED TWICE.

Wow!

[VolvoBirkenstock]

Also BANNED as itanimulli