Concealed carry into a foreign consulate?

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misANTHrope

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Background: Next week, I'll be attending a casual meeting of PHP developers down in Atlanta. These folks meet every month in a conference room at the Canadian consulate, which is located in a downtown high-rise office building.

Now, seeing as how this is, well, Atlanta, and how we'll likely be strolling back to the car after dark, in a deserted parking deck, I'd certainly like to be carrying when we go. However, I'm concerned about the legality of doing so.

Potential issue one is GA's prohibition on carrying into publicly-owned buildings. Based upon a bit of research I've done, it appears that the entire building need not be publicly owned, and that even portions of a building leased to government entities can fall under this prohibition. Question is, would the consulate's office space fall under this?

Potential issue two involves, well, the fact that it's a Canuck consulate. From what I've read, the widely held belief that embassies and consulates are considered foreign territory is not supported by case law, but I'm still concerned that some unusual restrictions might apply.

Potential issue three involves the possibility of he building itself being posted. Based upon my research, it doesn't appear that Georgia law allows for legally binding signs prohibiting carry within private property. Can any of you Georgia-ites confirm or deny this?

Thanks!
 
I know US embassies and consulates are considered American soil on foreign ground. I seriously doubt the Canadians are going to permit you to carry concealed in their country.
 
Regardless, they are going to search you on the way in, and carrying a weapon into a foreign consulate could spark an international incident. They are diplomats, after all.

I would strongly advise against attempting to carry a weapon into any consulate or embassy. It's your call, but I think you might find that you'll come to regret it.
 
While I personally think you should be able to carry on our soil, here is what will happen if you carry into the consulate:

1) You're going to walk into the door and either go through a metal detector or be wanded.

2) Your gun will make the metal detector/wand go *beep beep beep*.

3) You will be frisked.

4) They will find a gun.

5) You will be arrested.

6) Your boss will fire you because you embarrassed the company.

7) No one will hire you after that incident because when they ask you why you were fired from your last job, you will say, "I was fired for carrying a loaded weapon into a foreign embassy."
 
Actually, there is no security whatsoever at the consulate. I've been to a meeting there before, and there were no metal detectors, no security, no front desk person, no nothing. We just went in, went to the conference room, and had at it.

Also, since I am my own boss I can say for sure that I won't get fired. :D
 
Though, if you are discovered to be carrying, it will most likely be a federal crime and possibly one with international consequences. The last thing you want to do is sit before a Canadian court on a firearms charge.
 
Why not just call the consulate and get their take? Say "I am a permit holder and routinely carry and would that be allowed in your facility?" or some crap like that?

Seems rather silly to me to risk not saying anything and just waltz in with it on your person, regardless of what case law says.
 
^
Undoubtedly the best plan. I have no desire whatsoever to get [into trouble] over this, and frankly, despite the lack of security there, the potential consequences of getting busted are likely unpleasant.

Academic debates on forums like this one are fun and all, but things are a little different when one's freedom is on the line.
 
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Agreed, call them and ask what their policies are. As far as I'm concerned, it's no different than going to a friends house: If he doesn't want it there, you'd best respect his wishes or just not visit.
 
Hey, call them - "Hi, I've got a permit, and since the meeting's at night, and I have to walk through some deserted parking lots, can you either arrange security, or can I tote my boomstick, which I guarantee nobody will notice unless I get mugged?"
 
I agree with the crowd advising you to call. When or If you call them let us know what you find out. This could be a learning experience for all of us.
 
when you are in a foreign consulate, the laws of that land take hold, and if your busted for carrying, and it is a country that does not like that, then they can try to get you in deep trouble, and the US government is not going to bail you out over it.

so DON'T unless you have written permission to do so.
 
A consulate is usually just an office. I doubt they'll have any secondary screening. A call ahead would resolve the issue.

when you are in a foreign consulate, the laws of that land take hold,
Click to expand...

This is incorrect, as pointed out above. For example you're not going to be executed for going into a consulate of SA and burning the Koran.
 
Regardless, the best advice is just to leave the gun at home or locked in your car.

I get the feelling that some CCW licensees are just out to see how far they can push the envelope by wanting to carry in foreign countries, states where the license is invalid, in government buildings, etc.

Is there a real need, or just an in-your-face attitude? IMHO, that kind of thing does no good for the CCW cause.

Jim
 
I have no desire to be an international example. I have no desire to try to push carry on everyone I can. And I certainly have no desire to find myself in handcuffs, in a courtroom, and maybe prohibited from owning firearms again.

This is why I came here and asked this question, instead of just packing into the place and assuming that it was going to be OK. There's nothing "in-your-face" about this post, I asked a simple question, hoping to get some light shed on the situation. This is, after all, a discussion forum, and here we are discussing something. Sounds normal to me.

Now, on to further developments. I grabbed the consulate general's email off their site and shot them an email earlier. If I don't get any response, the pistol will stay in the car. It's not worth risking the unknown. And if I do get a response, I'll share it here for the general knowledge of the community.
 
Seriously it is not such a big deal. If Georgia forbids carrying in government offices, than a foreign consulate probably counts. Don't think it would count as Federal property.

The consulate can't arrest him and hold him in some sort of brig. I worked in US Embassy overseas, we certainly couldn't do that. They could ask local police to make an arrest, but it is far more likely they would just refuse him admittance and make him take it back to the car, assuming they find out, of course. As someone pointed out foreign consulates quite often don't have much in the way of security, with wanding, etc. There is not a big terrorist threat against the Canadian consulate in Atlanta.

Probably wise to ask, but I predict they will automatically say no.
 
Probably wise to ask, but I predict they will automatically say no.
Click to expand...
I suspect it will be more along the lines of #!@#$@!!@!# NO!!! This is the Canadian government we are talking about.
 
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