Without a veto by Gov. Sonny Perdue today, a dangerous bill permitting people with concealed-carry permits to carry firearms onto MARTA trains, into state parks and into restaurants that serve alcohol becomes law.

And Georgia becomes less safe.

That's why MARTA, the Georgia Restaurant Association, the Georgia Transit Association, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Manager Ben DeCosta and hundreds of citizens have pleaded with Perdue to veto House Bill 89, which was passed in the General Assembly without benefit of floor debate or public hearings. If this bill has the widespread support that the gun lobby alleges, Perdue ought to question why its sponsors had to slip it through during the waning hours of the General Assembly with no debate. Why not present it in full view of the public, with ample time for discussion, rather than under cover?

Because the bill doesn't hold up in the light of day.

There's zero evidence that more guns on the street prevents crime. If anything, more guns produce more violence, and Georgia has a startling rate of gun deaths and injuries to prove it. And while the gun lobby keeps repeating that other states give concealed-carry-permit owners wide latitude in where they can bring their weapons, they don't explain that most states have far more stringent rules than Georgia on who can get a permit.

Of the 46 states that allow concealed-carry weapons, 45 limit where the guns may be carried. Many restrict guns anywhere near booze because they understand that the combination of alcohol and a loaded gun threatens public safety. Supporters maintain that while HB 89 lets gun owners take their weapons into alcohol-serving establishments, it forbids them from drinking. However, the bill relies on an honor system and punishes violators only with a misdemeanor. Governors are given veto power for a reason; fatally flawed bills such as HB 89 are that reason.

Perdue should also veto House Bill 1133, a back-door tactic to transfer public monies to private schools. The bill grants generous income tax credits to individuals or corporations —- capped at $50 million a year —- that fund scholarships to enable children to leave public schools for private ones. The transfer of public funds to private schools comes at a time when public schools are reeling from five straight years of cutbacks in state funding.

Perdue should also veto HB 978, an ill-designed attempt to target illegal immigrants. If police stop a driver for speeding, running a red light or other traffic violation, HB 978 would require them to immediately impound the vehicle if the driver is an illegal immigrant.

However, it would be virtually impossible for the arresting officer to make that determination on the scene. The requirement would be a waste of law enforcement time, and it would inevitably result in the seizure of cars from legal immigrants and citizens of Hispanic background.

—- Maureen Downey and Mike King, for the editorial board (mdowney@ajc.com, mking@ajc.com)