Wednesday, August 13, 2008
You may not have been watching the battle that is brewing over concealed
carry in the Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta, Georgia, but it may end
up affecting you where you live.
Because of what's happening in Atlanta, the Transportation Security Agency
could decide to allow airports across the country to ban firearms in areas
that currently allow for self-defense.
It all began when Georgia passed a new law allowing permit holders to carry
guns onto state parks, into restaurants that serve alcohol, and onto mass
transit (such as the non-surveillance areas in airports).
The Hartsfield-Jackson airport responded by defying the state law and
banning firearms throughout the entire airport, including areas where
drivers pick up passengers.
This has resulted in a court battle, where presently, a federal judge ruled
in favor of the airport's ban. Now, the TSA may step into the fray by
permitting airports across the entire country to ban firearms in those
locations that are outside of the boarding areas.
Federal law prevents passengers from bringing firearms past airport
checkpoints. But in many states, passengers are allowed to bring guns and
knives into areas such as the pick-up points and the main terminal. This is
what could change very soon.
"Any decisions we make that affect (Atlanta) could affect every other
airport in the country," said TSA spokesman Christopher White to
USA Today
(8/7/08).
What's at stake here is not the ability to take guns past surveillance
points. What's at stake is the right of self-defense outside of these areas
-- especially where drivers are either dropping off or picking up
passengers.
In other words, drivers who have permits are the ones who would be affected
the most because they would now have to leave their guns at home -- thus
contradicting the very reason they got a concealed carry permit in the first
place... the fact that they wanted to carry their guns outside of the house.
ACTION: Please urge President Bush to put the squeeze on the TSA. This
president should certainly understand the bad-politics of imposing a gun ban
right before an election.
You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at
http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send Pres. Bush the pre-written
e-mail message below.
----- Pre-written letter -----
Dear Mr. President:
The August 7 issue of USA Today reports that the TSA is considering letting
airports across the country ban firearms in areas that currently allow for
self-defense.
What's at stake here is not the ability to take guns past surveillance
points. What's at stake is the right of self-defense outside of these areas
-- especially where drivers are either dropping off or picking up
passengers.
In other words, drivers who have permits are the ones who would be affected
the most because they would now have to leave their guns at home -- thus
contradicting the very reason they got a concealed carry permit in the first
place... the fact that they wanted to carry their guns outside of the house.
I hope that you will rein in the rogue TSA and prevent them from making such
a foolish decision -- if not for the Second Amendment, then for the sake of
your own administration and party. You must understand how harmful it
would be to impose a brand new gun ban in an election year, when the
campaigns of people like Al Gore and John Kerry have amply demonstrated
that the gun rights issue can cost a party dearly.
Sincerely,
concealed carry concerns
