Sun, Mar 15, 2009
Recent GA State Law Does Not Override Airport Policy
A challenge of a September US
District Court ruling was turned down in Federal Appeals Court last
week, denying firearms owners the right to carry guns at the
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL).
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the appeal was brought
by Rep. Timothy Bearden (R-GA) and gun rights group
GeorgiaCarry.org, contending that a law passed and enacted in the
state last year overrode the airport's policy of prohibiting
firearms, even in non-secure areas. The law permits owners of
licensed firearms to possess guns in parks, restaurants, and on
public transportation.
Senior US District Judge Marvin Shoob ruled last September that
public transit systems and airports aren't the same and dismissed
the case. Last week, the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals supported
the original ruling, calling arguments voiced by Bearden and
GeorgiaCarry.org "meritless."
ATL airport manager Benjamin DeCosta pronounced the airport a
"gun-free" zone and said, "We are pleased … that
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will continue to
remain a safe, secure, gun-free environment for its 90 million
passengers a year."
A statement released by Jonathan Lowy of the Brady Center to
Prevent Gun Violence said the court's ruling was "right on the law
and sound policy."
As the author of the recent gun law, Bearden was disappointed.
"I know what the legislative intent was. We will either continue to
handle this through the judiciary process ... or we could just go
ahead and fix this legislatively and spell it out."
His rewrite of the state gun law in question has already been
introduced for consideration, and could come to a vote before the
General Assembly next year.
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