Lawmaker May Seek Airport Gun Limits

House Homeland Security Chairman May Pursue Gun Restrictions Following New Ga. Law

(AP)  The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee says he might pursue new gun restrictions in response to a recently enacted Georgia law that could allow people to carry concealed firearms in parts of the Atlanta airport.

Apparently surprised that some airports long have allowed guns in unsecured areas, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said the new Georgia legislation represents a significant hole in national security and a threat to travelers.

He asked the Transportation Security Administration to clarify federal law governing weapons in areas outside security checkpoints. In a letter Monday to TSA Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley, he said "the committee may seek legislative action to correct this omission" if there are no restrictions.

TSA spokesman Christopher White said Tuesday that no federal prohibitions apply to areas outside security checkpoints and that the agency follows local regulations. He said he didn't know how many airports allow firearms and declined to say whether the agency has a position on the matter, maintaining that it is focused on keeping guns from getting through security.

"We work within the framework of local laws," he said.

At issue in Georgia is a law signed by Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue earlier this year that allows residents who have passed criminal background checks to carry concealed weapons onto mass transit, as well as into state parks and restaurants that serve alcohol. The law took effect July 1.

A legal battle quickly erupted over whether the law applies to public areas of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport before travelers pass through security checkpoints.

On the day the new law took effect, Atlanta officials who oversee the airport declared it a "gun-free zone" and said anyone carrying a gun there could be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin argued that allowing guns could endanger people because airports remain attractive targets for terrorism.

Gun rights supporters filed a federal lawsuit challenging the designation, saying the airport qualifies as mass transportation and has restaurants that should be accessible under the new law.

Sean Broderick, spokesman for the American Association of Airport Executives, also said he did not know how many airports allow handguns. Andrew Arulanandam, a National Rifle Association spokesman, said he thinks guns are at least partially allowed on airport grounds in most states.

The Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport, for example, allows weapons in areas outside checkpoints, while Washington's Reagan National and Dulles International airports eased rules several years ago to allow weapons on grounds and parking lots, but not in terminals and other buildings that access airfields.

Hartsfield spokesman Herschel Grangent said airport and TSA officials were scheduled to meet late Tuesday on the guns issue.

[eggy1620]

How in the world would another law prevent terrorists heII bent on creating mayhem from carrying loaded weapons up to the security checkpoint? Can somebody answer that question?

[libsluv2spit]

Posted by libsluv2spit at 07:18 PM : Jul 23, 2008
+ report abuse


**************

opps correction:

WITHOUT the First Amendment..

[libsluv2spit]

Don''''t want to mess with the gun owners & their precious rights. Oh no. Nothing is more sacred than that.

Imagine where we would be WITHOUT the almighty Second Amendment. Daggone founding fathers.

I got your "well-regulated militia" right here!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Keithle1 at 05:16 AM : Jul 23, 2008
+ report abuse


************

I know where you would be with the FIRST AMENDMENT..

buried in a shallow grave with a bullethole on your forhead...

[yongamerica]

Excuse me! Being able to carry self defense weapons is a hole in terrorist security? It''s comforting to know that hidden among the armed terrorists are armed citizens with a special distaste for aviation terrorists.

[deacon20081]

Concealed hand guns are usually just that by law, Concealed, The permit required to carry a gun is not easy to obtain. Background in their State''s,the NCIC and Federal checks are all a part of the process, in addition to mandatory classes on law. Those who hate the idea of anyone carring a weapon would change their toon if a Concealed Carrier happened to be near you when you were being mugged and steped in to protect you or a child. Some folks act as if a person licensed to carry a concealed weapon, is wearing a six gun low on their hip strolling through town with a winchester over their shoulder.
Think about it.

[patriot12436]

t

[keithle1]

Don''t want to mess with the gun owners & their precious rights. Oh no. Nothing is more sacred than that.

Imagine where we would be WITHOUT the almighty Second Amendment. Daggone founding fathers.

I got your "well-regulated militia" right here!

[keithle1]

Guns, guns, guns. Only in America do we worry about this kind of stuff. No other country do the number of guns equal the number of people.

[patriot12436]

I agree we need to keep them off of airplanes, but if terrorists should show up at an airport with a plan, then they could possibly hijack a plane. I think the law needs to keep guns totally out of airport except for law emforcement personnel.

[patriot12436]

I am totally for the right to carry and bear arms, but i hadn''t thought about this possibility. I only assumed you could not bring a gun inside an airport. I would support such a law banning firearms by civilians inside any airport.