Lawmakers approve bill opening Atlanta Hartsfield airport to firearms

Lawmakers in Georgia have approved a bill that would allow gun owners to carry their licensed firearms at parts of Atlanta Hartsfield, despite the airport's vigorous opposition.

The legislation, which is waiting for Gov. Sonny Perdue's signature, would permit carrying of firearms in areas that are not controlled by the federal government, such as terminals and parking lots.

It expands on a state law passed in 2008 that allows Georgia residents with firearm licenses to bring concealed weapons onto public transportation, in parks and recreational areas and into restaurants that serve alcohol. Gun advocates have since been lobbying to expand the law to include the airport.

The case is being closely watched by airport officials nationwide.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2010-05-03-airport_checkin03_ST_N.htm

Once again, my state embarrasses me.

Come on Georgia! Are you a bunch of wimps or something?

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Of course, she's usually flying in at 3:30am.

I have no problem with the parking lot, but terminals?

Here is a rudimentary Hartsfield layout (dotted line is the underground train/walkway):

Entrance > Security > Terminal.T---Terminal.A---Terminal.B---Terminal.C---Terminal.D---Terminal.E (International)

You can't go outside without going past Security in Terminal T.

You can't get to the other Terminals without going through security at Terminal T.

So - what is the purpose???

I never go past the exit of the secure area. Usually my wife texts me which baggage claim she _thinks_ her luggage will be at (you gotta know DFW airport to get that one) and I meet her there. Assuming the change for Atlanta is the way it is in Texas, you can't carry past the security screening- so parking lot and "Entrance" in your diagram.

I go prepared wherever I can. If I knew one day that I *this* day is the one I'd have to use my gun to protect myself, I'd hit the snooze and stay in bed. I carry because my crystal ball is broken, and I'd rather carry and not need it than the reverse.

Again, my issue isn't with baggage claim/ticketing/parking - it is with 'terminals' that are only accessible after security.

I think the distinction is the unscreened area vs the screened area. I think USAToday is just being loose with 'terminal'.

Can anyone, please explain why the FUCK you would need to carry it in parts of the airport if you can't take it on the plane??? Is it because these morons know they'll never be able to bring it on the plane so they're like, "well we should be able to bring it as close to the plane as possible"?!?!?!

Jesus Christ, what is wrong with some people???

I'm not saying one example from the 70's is a great example, but bad things happen sometime. Somebody who is flying can not bring a gun in, but if you are picking somebody up and not going through security, I don't see any harm. The fact is many people who have chose to carry a gun for defense have saved their lives and the lives of others. If one example from the 70's isn't good enough, I can probably find an example of somebody using a gun in self defense to save themselves today. It may not be in an airport today, but who knows where it will strike next.

I don't wear a tinfoil hat, and I don't carry a gun, but I have no problem with people who do carry.

Airports already have excellent security which include armed guards. There's no comparison between the large commercial airports of today and those of the 1970's where you stroll right on to a jet with a bomb in your briefcase and never get checked. You might be able to come up with a few hypothetical scenarios where someone with a concealed gun might be able to save the day, but there's also plenty where that same situation might not have such a happy ending.

It's quite obvious this move has a lot more to do with politics than it does about common sense.

And think of some numbers. How many airports are in the world? How many daily flights? And how many airport massacres have there been?

Answers: 1) about 350 "international" ones, give or take a few dozen
2) Dunno. How about the year 2000, according to Boeing: 1.09 billion people on 18 million flights worldwide. There are about 29,000 commercial flights annually in the US alone.
3) 1.

Any rational, sane person would not be scared of terrorist shootouts at airports. You're at far greater danger of dying via a firearm accident.

.. that don't restrict concealed carry in the unsecure area of airports.

My wife's job often has me picking her up at crazy hours in the middle of the night. I'm usually carrying.

DFW is laid out like this..

----north exit/entrance
>-> B | | A <-<
------v ^------
>-> D | | C <-<
------v ^------
-p--- | | E <-<
------v ^------
----south exit/entrance

You drive right through the middle of the airport, and can get to any terminal without leaving your car.

There is short term parking right in front of each terminal. I walk from short term parking to baggage claim. Not sure if you mean 'terminal' as baggage claim / ticketing desk, or the gates themselves. Not the gates, no, those are past the security screening.

Per diagram posted above, "terminals" in ATL are secured areas. Like I mentioned above, I have no problem with unsecured/baggage/ticketing/parking areas, it is "terminals" that has my attention in this report.

If TSA (Feds) say no weapons (hell, no bottled water) past security, what good does this bill even do?

Tks for DFW diagram. We think alike in explaining concepts. :toast:

Another article clarifies-

"The bill allows licensed carriers to take their guns into airports, but only up to federally controlled security checkpoints. That would include ticketing areas, as well as airport parking lots and drop-off spots."

Read more: http://www.macon.com/2010/04/28/1109607/bill-allowing-guns-in-airports.html#ixzz0mvIjpgoO

It is getting to the point where I am wondering... what will it take fer the crayzeee to stop.