Cavalier Knight
Member
TSA Deciding On Whether To Ban Guns In Airports
Gun Owners of America
8001 Forbes Place
Suite 102
Springfield VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
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,
Gun Owners of America
8001 Forbes Place
Suite 102
Springfield VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org
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,
