"Cover me, honey, while I check our bags..."

I do see a need to carry a firearm to the airport. Can you guarantee that the police will protect you during an attack at the airport or airport parking lot? These aren't secured areas. What about driving through the shady areas of town getting to the airport? What Tim Bearden has done is allowed law abiding citizens to protect themselves in areas that were previously forbidden. I see nothing wrong with that. I see nothing wrong with trying to be prepared to prevent yourself from dying.

I know that Airports are considered safe, but what about in situations where the police are working another problem and aren't in the immediate area? What about in the restrooms? What about in a riot or natural disaster when the police can't help you? These can't happen at the airport? The reasons to carry a gun aren't for situations when everything is calm. It's for when it's not and you find yourself in a situation where you feel you are about to die. I submit that these situations can happen anywhere....the unsecured areas of the airport are no exception.

To clarify, the state of Georgia does not issue a concealed carry permit. Georgia issues a "Georgia Firearms License". This license gives the holder the ability to conceal carry or open carry

If you fail to see the need for it at an airport, you likely fail to see the need for it anywhere else. So any argument a pro-gun person would use in this tiff, would likely be met with same ramblings used in any other disagreement on the right to bear arms.

I think it's a GREAT law but regardless of what anyone "thinks", it is THE LAW. Shirley Franklin and Ben DeCosta can't just decide to make the airport a gun free zone because they feel like it. What's next, no BMW's inside the perimeter of 285?? I know it's a crazy idea but if one law can be overlooked certainly there are many more than can be as well. The law has been passed and will be upheld, end of story. And by the way... carrying a concealed weapon or openly carrying it are both fine in Georgia as long as you have a Georgia Firearms License.

Your statement, "I guess I fail to see the need to bring a concealed weapon to the airport", is a common sentiment among victims of violent crime on the day prior to their murder, rape or beating. You have the right to believe this will never happen to you, and I have the right to assure that it won't to me or my loved ones.

For the record, I exercise my right to carry my weapon daily and do so judiciously while sharing the roads, shopping in malls, patronizing restaurants and pumping my gas surrounded by you and the general public. Georgia Firearms License holders are law abiding, honest citizens with a lower crime rate than Georgia's police force. Why do you think I'd suddenly become a danger to you if I park at the airport, pick up my wife at the airport curb, or walk into the unsecured area of the terminal to fetch my bag while carrying?

Sir,

Georgia is now one of 40+ states that allows legally liscenesed gun owners to carry their arms for personal protection. These individuals go through a process of back round checks and fingerprinting before gaining the liscense. They are among the most law abiding people you will encounter.

Testy cabbies and baggage grabbers aren't our worry. It's those who will accost you on the way to and from the airport who give one pause to think of self defense.

The lone lady walking across a dark parking lot; the elderly couple riding MARTA; the businessman carry sensitive company information on the way to his flight; all of these people are targets of those who would rather take the short route to "prosperity".

Each of these potential victims has the constitutional right to defend themselves from debasement or death.

Why do you think it better to leave them to the "mercy" of criminals?

Only in Georgia? With the recently passed HB89, Georgia is the 43rd state to allow the possession of firearms in the non-secure portion of the airport. This includes New York and California, two conspicuously anti-gun states.

Regarding one of your earlier statement regarding carrying firearms in restaurants that serve alcohol, Georgia now joins 38 other states that permit this. Furthermore, the newly passed law forbids consumption of alcohol while carrying a firearm, so you can relax, or put your ration of worrying to use elsewhere like what to do while you're waiting for your luggage to show up at the same place you are.

Why penalize law abiding citizens? If anyone commits a crime with a firearm, you can be sure that the law will deal with them even more harshly for the crime they've committed (ie: robbery, assault, murder)than if they had done without firearm. Again, why penalize the law-abiding citizen? Don't ask "Why should they have a gun at the airport?", instead ask "Why shouldn't they have one?" After all, it is a freedom, just like free speech, protected by the Constitution, and state law.

43 states that now allow airport carry of a firearm in the non-sterile areas. So your comment of "only in Georgia" doesn't make sense.

Just because you, personally, don't see any need for the law does not strip away any needs I may have for the law. Please feel free to remain unarmed, but please don't try to restrict me.

Do you see a need to exercise your 1st amendment right? A right un-exercised is a right lost.

My Father was mugged in the Hartsfield airport parking deck last Christmas. He took a couple pretty good hits to his head.

Guess what? He was held up by a person with a gun. This was pre-hb89 and the site was a "gun-free" zone.

Why should we allow criminals to carry onto airport property and not law abiding citizens?

“Only in Georgia”

Hardly.

Georgia is the FORTY THIRD state to legalize the carry of handguns in non-secure areas of airports.

There has not been a problem with gunfights breaking out in any of those states’ air terminals, has there? Why would one think that it will be a problem here?

Mr. Foust,
I'm going to handle this point-by-point.

First, the recently-passed legislation is hardly unique to Georgia. 40+ states already allow law-abiding residents and visitors to carry firearms in restaurants that serve alcohol, in unsecured areas of airports, and on public transportation in general; yet examples of these licensed or qualified individuals committing crimes are virtually nonexistent. 20+ years of evidence shows that these people are even less likely than police officers to commit violent crimes.

Second, the issue at heart of Rep. Bearden's suit is that the city of Atlanta is acting in direct violation of state law, as follows:
-Georgia Code explicitly prohibits governments below the state level from regulating the carriage of firearms. This is known as "preemption".
-HB89 allows licensed people to carry in public transporation terminals (which,as defined in another section of Georgia Code, includes airport terminals), so long as they are not violating federal law (which only prohibits firearms in the secure area).
-HB89 also includes language which specifically exempts the newly-allowed places from the other restrictions which might have applied.
-The city lost a very similar lawsuit over another "gun-free zone" law just a couple months ago.

Third, those of us with Firearms Licenses (300,000 in Georgia) carry solely to defend ourselves and our families from immediate, life-or-death threats. We aren't whackos that threaten cab drivers or someone who picks up the wrong luggage by mistake. We aren't the ones committing the crimes, sir.

You say that you don't see the "need" to carry at the airport. Most of the time, you'd be right--violent attacks by armed persons at airports are exceedingly rare (incidentally, the last example in Atlanta involved an on-duty police officer dragging a woman from out of the car and beating her). Heck, violent attacks anywhere are pretty rare--yet they do happen, regardless of whether the place is a "gun-free zone" or not.

Mr. Foust, I hope you're right. I hope I never need my gun, that I can go my whole life without having to draw it to defend myself. But if I ever do need it, I'd really like to have it.

Frankly, I don't understand what the logic is behind "gun-free zones" at all. Maybe their proponents think that simply declaring a place "gun-free" magically sets up a wall that keeps criminals and guns out? But then, we see evidence all the time that criminals simply ignore the "no guns allowed" restriction and commit their crimes anyways. Neither criminals nor terrorists will abide by

Maybe they're worried about accidents? But licensed citizens safely carry firearms in grocery stores, fast-food restaurants, liquor stores, and shopping malls every day, all over the country. Guns don't just "go off" by themselves, and we licensed citizens have a very good safety record.

And to address the airport specifically: I keep hearing "why would you need one at the airport?" I ask the question, "why not?" The state recongnizes my right to carry a weapon to defend myself out in public; to then state "well, it's okay here, but not over there" doesn't make any sense. We licensed citizens pose no threat, commit no crimes, and harm nobody. So why does the media continue to insinuate that we're terrorists?

Really, I'm not too worried about being attacked at the airport itself. I'm much more concerned about being carjacked on the way there, or being mugged in a dark parking deck after picking my wife up from her flight.

And honestly, I'm tired of those who carry being dismissed as "paranoid" or "gun freaks" . It's not paranoia when women are advised to have their phones out in the parking lot, to check around their cars before getting in, to carry pepper spray, or have their keys out and in their fists. But when you advise them to carry a gun instead (because it's simply much more effective at stopping an attacker than a little key), that's apparently crazy.

You need to check the facts on how many states already permit carrying of weapons, concealed or openly into the unsecured areas of airports. You would be amazed to see that most do, the list is too long to mention here but maps showing locations where airport carry are available at www.georgiacarry.org

Call me paranoid at my funeral. Until then, call me prepared.

you carry cell phone...because you use it. gun...when was last time you had to pull a gun to defend yourself??

loophole in an airport's security system is not a vaild reason carry guns. i am not against people having guns but where would one carry it...in a pocket to enhance the tool? morelikely, you will hurt yourself.

then again...if you have to carry a gun to protect yourself...you are living in a wrong town. get a job and get out! there's world out there...

If your wife is expected to provide any necessary covering fire while you check bags, I guess you don't have a problem with HER carrying a gun at the airport.

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Carrying any arms in our post 9/11 world to an airport shows poor judgment and will likely have you in conflict with our Federal Govt.

We don't need laws for every nit-noid thing in life, just use your brains.

Are there problems with criminals at airports aside from terrorists? Since no one suspected the 9-11 terrorists were up to anything, who could have made a difference there? Will we now have paranoid folks outside of the security area targeting people who might be suspicous looking?? Have we had major problems in airport unsecured areas? One example was given of someone who was mugged in the parking lot. There is no guarantee that that person could have gotten out a gun in time to do anything about it, probably dragging luggage and other items. I say, they can have my purse. I don't want to be killed or kill someone for my money. There are just way too many times when guns are used against their owners or used to kill unnecessarily. Why do we need to have guns everywhere we go? I thought at least airports were safe from folks with guns- one of the few places aside from government buildings where our elected leaders work every day and pass these ridiculous laws.

hey Joan. I can get my gun out in time. So can my wife. we both are licensed carriers. Also, my wife is pretty, they may not stop at a purse.

I'm sick and tired of the anti-gunners comments on gun related stories. Those for upholding our Right to Bear Arms, come bearing facts and point to places that others can go to learn more about something that they are apparently afraid of. Those against it, tell stories of rednecks, and idiots that shoot all the people in a establishment because they were trying to protect themselves. They make comments like, I don't want to be killed, or kill someone for my money.

What about if it was for your life? How about if they wanted to rape you? Maybe rape your daughter? Would it be "worth it" then? What will it take for you to realize that our Police Officers aren't going to be able to help you in one of these situations, as you lay down and give up?

When was the last time I had to pull my gun? When was the last time the mere presence of my firearms diffused a situation before it got bad? Post 9/11, post 9/11. What does 9/11 have to do with me carrying a firearm to provide for my safety and the safety of those I love? The 9/11 hijackers got past the "security" that was put in place to protect you at the airport. They hopped on planes, and using box cutters, killed many, many people. If there had been a Marshal on those airplanes, those same people might have been alive today. If departments could actually protect you, 9/11 might not have ever happened in the first place.

All those that don't believe you should own a gun, or carry a gun for self preservation, feel free to depend on others for your protection but leave me alone and allow me to exercise my Right to do so, and instead of calling names and insulting people, try debating the subject with facts and logic.

" I thought at least airports were safe from folks with guns"

If by that you mean criminals, then no place is safe. But, I'm guessing that's not what you meant.

I guess some people just don't mind being victims. They are robbed, raped, beaten, shot, etc and just sit around in depression wondering 'why me?'

Well, when you walk around more afraid of law abiding carry permit holders than violent criminals, you make the juiciest of targets. Ignorant & unarmed. Enjoy being a martyr for your 'cause' while I enjoy life. Oh and thanks for distracting the criminals for me too so that I don't have to use my gun. Ammo is expensive!

Joan, you thought airports were safe from folks with guns because it is a "Gun Free" zone? The students at VT thought it was safe in their "Gun Free" zone as well. But we all know "Gun Free" zones = disarming law abiding citizens. Criminals don't care about "Gun Free" zones, they're going to carry their guns and weapons anyways.

It makes me sad to hear people such as yourself say they don't want to be killed for their money but put their lives in the hands of others whether it be the criminal who may or may not kill you, or the police who, unfortunately, can not always get to you. Just because you chose not to exercise your right to protect yourself, don't take the right from those who chose to.

It's funny and ridiculous to think about how complacent we can become as Americans. You fail to see the need to protect you and your family at all times? I would go so far as to say that I think its a shame that you cannot check your firearm to be recovered at your flight destination so that you may carry on vacation or business as well. Needless to say, you will be the guy who gets attacked and provides no retort except for a girlish scream.

Good day

I carry a gun often, and if I need to go to the airport to pick up someone or drop someone off, I do not want to leave my gun in the car (something that the mayor does not even want to allow). Airport parking is not a safe place, as shown by this NY Times article: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE1DE103EF937A35754C0A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all The fact that I think it is silly to have to drive home to leave my second amendment rights there while I make a trip to the airport. The gun grabbers just intend to make it as inconvienient as possible to exercise my God given right to protect myself and my family. Only those with permits follow the law, the criminal does not care if having a gun is illegal.

Joan, you mentioned the mugger who had a gun in the airport parking deck and then in the next breath said "I thought at least airports were safe from folks with guns". Repeat your statement a couple of times and see if something doesn't quite add up. I'll give you a hint... criminals already have their guns at the airport. Now the law abiding folks can bring theirs too.

G2ok says: "Carrying any arms in our post 9/11 world to an airport shows poor judgment and will likely have you in conflict with our Federal Govt."

Actually, no. The federal government prohibits weapons in the secure areas of the airport--that is, past security screening and in the security screening area. In the terminals, there are no federal or state laws that prohibit firearms. That's the point of the lawsuit by the GCO against the city. The city is expressly prohibited by state law from regulating firearms in any way. The city is breaking the law and those who want to carry in the terminal are obeying the law. You can disagree with the law, and if you're a GA resident, you can take steps to try to change it, but as the law currently stands, the firearms-carriers are in the right and the city is in the wrong. GCO has already won one law suit against the city over this very same issue, and they will prevail again.

"I guess I fail to see the need to bring a concealed weapon to the airport. To defend yourself from being cut off by a testy cab driver? From someone who picks up your suitcase at baggage claim?"

The airport itself might be perfectly secure and crime-free (it's not, but let's concede the point), but what about the areas that I go to on my way to and from the airport? Even if you argue that I should leave my gun in my car, what about the parking lot, which I must pass through in order to get to the airport?

The fact is that the law was explicitly written to allow carry in the unsecured areas of the airport--this is according to the author of the law himself, so no hearsay or supposition is necessary. The mayor doesn't like the law, so she chooses to ignore it. I can think of a few laws I don't like. I wonder what would happen to me if I just chose to ignore them?

I am glad you can get your wife to protect you like that....she must be quite a lady. You would probably throw your typewriter...oops....keyboard at them. But, then that is not a bad idea....it will keep you from writing stupid articles like this. You write a article like this - without facts - just to fill in a space because you have to make your quota? It cannot be done in the pursuit of good journalism, now can it?