Ga. Judge Shoots Down Idea of Guns at Airport, For Now

A federal judge ruled against gun rights advocates who argued that residents should be allowed to carry legal firearms into public areas of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

U.S. District Judge Marvin Shoob declined to grant a preliminary injunction that would have barred Atlanta officials from enforcing the gun ban in non-secure areas of the airport. Shoob said allowing guns would make the busy airport less safe and require authorities to completely overhaul security measures, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Gun rights advocates GeorgiaCarry.org and state Rep.Timothy Bearden claimed Georgia's new legislation that allows guns in state parks and mass transit allowed licensed gun owners to carry in portions of the airport.

The case remains active, and it remains to be seen whether guns will eventually be allowed or if Georgia lawmakers will clarify the law in some way.

John Monroe, a lawyer for GeorgiaCarry.org and Bearden, remained resolute.

"There's no law that criminalizes carrying a firearm into the airport," he told the paper. "For the defendants to arrest someone for what's not a crime is a violation of their constitutional rights."

Earlier:

ABAJournal.com: "Georgia Gov. Says Guns at Airport Should Be OK"