TSA weighs gun ban at airports

[searcher451]

Here we go again, from this morning's USA TODAY:

TSA weighs airport gun ban in unsecured areas

By Thomas Frank, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Security Administration may allow airports to ban firearms from terminals, parking lots, roads and other airport areas where many states currently allow passengers to carry lethal weapons.
Airport officials and lawmakers are watching closely as the TSA weighs a request by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to modify its security program to impose an airportwide ban on guns. It is the first such request to TSA from an airport.

"Any decisions we make that affect (Atlanta) could affect every other airport in the country," TSA spokesman Christopher White said Thursday.

Federal law bars passengers from bringing weapons to or past airport checkpoints. But in many airports, state law allows passengers to carry guns and knives in unsecured areas such as a main terminal — often to airport officials' dismay.

"I don't really like the idea of people coming here with weapons and carrying them into terminals, but that's their right as citizens of the state of Texas," said Alan Black, public safety chief at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

In Atlanta, the issue arose last month after the state passed a law to allow Georgia residents with gun licenses to carry firearms onto public transportation, including subways, buses and airports. When the city-owned airport vowed to maintain its longstanding firearms ban, GeorgiaCarry.org, a gun rights group, sued.

On July 17, after the lawsuit was filed, the request from Hartsfield officials asked the TSA to amend its airport security program to include a gun ban. Each of the nation's 450 commercial airports has a detailed written security program that can be changed only with TSA approval.

Hartsfield's effort is backed by airport groups and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who plans hearings next month on airport efforts to ban guns. "If airports think (guns) should not be allowed, they should have the right to modify their security plan to reflect that," he said.

The Airports Council International said in a recent letter to Hartsfield, "There is no justification for permitting firearms at any airport." Policies vary from state to state and from airport to airport. Some bar guns fully, others allow them, sometimes in areas such as a parking lot, said Charles Chambers, the council's security chief.

Hartsfield spokesman Herschel Grangent said that someone firing a gun in the airport would force a massive evacuation that could disrupt flights nationwide. Hartsfield, with 89 million passengers in 2007, is the world's busiest airport.

GeorgiaCarry.org lawyer John Monroe said the airport gun ban jeopardizes personal safety: "You might like to have a gun in your car because you come home on an 11:30 p.m. flight."

The TSA is "trying to work through some complex legal issues," said spokesman White. He gave no timetable for a decision. Courts may ultimately decide whether an airport can override state law and prohibit guns by adding a ban to its security program, Chambers said.

Find this article at: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-08-07-tsa-gun-ban_N.htm

Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

 

[HeavyDuty]

"I don't really like the idea of people coming here with weapons and carrying them into terminals, but that's their right as citizens of the state of Texas," said Alan Black, public safety chief at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

Boo hoo. He doesn't like what he admits is a right. Poor baby.

I'm not entirely sure TSA has authority over non-secured areas. Anyone know?

 

[jrfoxx]

The Transportation Security Administration may allow airports to ban firearms from terminals, parking lots, roads and other airport areas where many states currently allow passengers to carry lethal weapons.

Gee, I wasnt aware the TSA was a law making body, and had jusrisdiction over non-federal property.I have no real beef with them having control over the SECURE areas, as their job clearly IS to handle who and what goes onto a plane, but the NON-SECURE areas have nothing to do with people and things actually going on, or even near a plane, and is controlled by the city/state where the airport is, not the feds, and rightfully so.

Lots of people go to airports to pick up/drop off passengers,or to work, and have no intention of going anywhere near a plane, and thus, are none of the TSA's business. They control only who and what goes on or near planes, and people just picking up and dropping off, or working in non-secure areas are simply not in thier jurisdiction any more that someone at the McDonalds down the street.

Looks to me like yet another federal agency expanding itself and grabbing more power and control than is needed or legitimate.Starting to wonder why we even have cities, states, and non-federal governments anymore, as the feds seem to just keep taking more and more control over everything.

Think of all the money we'll save when state and local government is dissolved, and how uniform all the laws will be once everything is under federal control only!

 

[Magus8764]

At least he recognizes it AS a right, and understands that his like or dislike of it doesn't matter.

 

[FourTeeFive]

And they never give an actual reason

And the TSA gives no reason why guns should not be allowed in these areas. It is always personal opinion. An official says "I see no reason..."

 

[Drgong]

Why would the TSA have oversight on non-secure areas?

 

[rduckwor]

Last week, I passed thru the drop-off area at ATL, parked at the curb, dumped passengers, and left. My pistol was in the car, concealed. Did I violate the ATL police chief's non-codified dictum? Probably. If so, Shirley Franklin can come and arrest me.

Will TSA try to tell us we can't have a gun in the car on ATL property anywhere?

The airport cops were too busy bleating over their PA's about not parking, keep moving, unloading only, stay with your car, etc. to notice what was going on with one car.

RMD

 

[pappy]

Not sure, but wouldn't the states that have preemption statutes not allow this?

 

[Soybomb]

I wonder what happens to people flying with guns...

 

[Zip7]

If you'd like to get around with those pesky TSA regulations, your best bet is to become a U.S. Marshal. I have a friend who is one, and I gave him a ride to the airport one day to catch a plane. He was through security in about 3 seconds (actually more like around it..) and was carrying. Gets to carry on the plane too.

And, around here, being an LEO means no more speeding tickets, ever.

 

[Henry Bowman]

In Atlanta, the issue arose last month after the state passed a law to allow Georgia residents with gun licenses to carry firearms onto public transportation, including subways, buses and airports.

:banghead: I understand this is nit picking..., but laws are not passed to allow Americans to do anything. A law was passed lifting the prohibition on ...

If we think about it from the correct starting point, it's much easier to grasp the concept of people safely carrying in a public place.

 

[SSN Vet]

they still haven't figured out that the 911 hijackers used box cutters and not firearms.

when was the last time you heard of somebody hijacking a plane with a gun in this country??

 

[ny32182]

I'd like to know how I've flown through ATL with a pistol *several* times in the last year if they have a "long standing gun ban in unsecured areas".

 

[Standing Wolf]

they still haven't figured out that the 911 hijackers used box cutters and not firearms.

when was the last time you heard of somebody hijacking a plane with a gun in this country??

Well, yeah, but these so-called "laws" and "regulations" are all about controlling Americans, not criminals and terrorist savages.

 

[Animal Mother]

Since the TSA is a Federal authority, wouldn't the recent Heller decision apply to them?

 

[chipperi]

Airports are not federal property they usually are State or private property, So what authority if any does TSA have outside of the secured areas of the airport?

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Airports are not federal property they usually are State or private property, So what authority if any does TSA have outside of the secured areas of the airport?

They are almost as bad as the port authority in Portland Oregon who thinks they override state law and say carrying in unsecured areas at PDX is verboten. They've even gotten the local police to enforce it a few times.
The TSA needs to be told they are not LORD OF THE SKIES although too many people treat them as such.

 

[230RN]

Four Tee Five observes:

And the TSA gives no reason why guns should not be allowed in these areas. It is always personal opinion. An official says "I see no reason..."

Here are the reasons:

state law allows passengers to carry guns and knives in unsecured areas such as a main terminal — often to airport officials' dismay.

...and...

"I don't really like the idea of people coming here with weapons and carrying them into terminals..."

There. See? All clear on that now?

 

[divemedic]

One way to prevent this is simple: If the TSA allows an airport to prohibit firearms over the objections of state and local law, then the state and local government simply refuses to fund ANY airport activity, including providing LEOs as security. If the TSA wants the authority, they can have the responsibility as well.

Think of how much budget money that will free up for the local cops, the local government, and the state. If the airport and TSA want to make the rules, they can pay the bills as well.

 

[Fish Miner]

So wll this potentially kill the travel hunter industry? how many folks are willing to drive from GA to Alaska for that Bear, or Big game in Africa, will I have to ship to an FFL ahead of time ? This country is going down the crapper.

 

[Mousegun]

Hartsfield spokesman Herschel Grangent said that someone firing a gun in the airport would force a massive evacuation that could disrupt flights nationwide.

and if it saved someone's tail, so what !!!!!

 

[larry_minn]

I remember after 9/11 picking up people at airport. They had guard personal checking cars. So I pop trunk he sees LARGE gun case "whats in there?" So I answer "AR 15" He says "Ok go ahead" They didn't ask about Glock on my hip either.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Maybe they should just come out and say it: "We don't like the law abiding peons being better equipped to stop crimes than our walkie-talkie packin' whiteshirts. It's a buzzkill to our God-complex."

 

[SSN Vet]

someone firing a gun in the airport would force a massive evacuation

because TSA insists on overreacting to everything

 

[eflatminor]

Would this mean no more hunting trips?

If the TSA said no guns at any airport, does that not mean that no one could fly with a gun? Or, are they just talking about carrying concealed (or open)? If it's the former, there are going to be a lot of hunting companies going out of business.

So, while I don't think the TSA has ANY ground to ban guns outside of areas they are responsible for, I want to know what this gun grabbing fascists in Altanta are hoping for.