Senate OKs guns in eateries, on MARTA trains

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UPDATED: 8:18 a.m. April 03, 2008
Senate OKs concealed guns in eateries, MARTA

By ANDREA JONES
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/03/08

Georgians with concealed weapons permits could carry guns on MARTA trains, and into restaurants as long as they don't drink, under a bill that passed the Senate after two rounds of contentious debate Wednesday.

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Senators tacked the provisions onto HB 257, a bill that would have allowed Magistrate Court constables to carry guns, and significantly expanded its scope.

The last minute changes come after months of intense pressure from the National Rifle Association and Georgia gun groups to loosen the state's weapons laws.

The Republican-controlled Senate has struggled with gun legislation throughout the past two sessions, caught between the NRA and business interests about whether employees should have the right to keep weapons in the cars they park on company lots.

In 2007, after bitter behind-the-scenes confrontations, the Senate killed the legislation. In February, the Senate agreed on a watered-down version of the NRA-backed proposal and placed it in HB 89, a bill originally intended to relax the rules on where handguns can be kept in vehicles. But the Senate then declined to negotiate with the House over changes to the bill, stalling the measure. HB 89, sponsored by Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica) a former police officer, would have allowed guns in churches, sporting events and political rallies.

Senators saw an opening Wednesday to revive the debate.

Sen. John Douglas (R-Social Circle) said concealed weapon permit holders are responsible citizens who deserve to carry guns. "Because we do live in a dangerous time, it is our responsibility to allow honest people to protect themselves and their families," he said.

Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) urged fellow senators to think about whether they wanted armed people on the city's public transportation system.

"Is it wise to send the message that it's open season for gun-toters on MARTA?" she asked.

Orrock also questioned the practicality of enforcing the no-drinking rule for gun carriers at restaurants.

She asked whether lawmakers should broaden the scope of the law to "allow people armed to the teeth with alcohol within arms length."

The bill nearly was killed earlier in the day when a Democrat tried to add an amendment that would have lengthened it so much that it would have to be put back on the calendar. The amendment from Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) would have required public universities to come up with emergency safety plans in the wake of the deadly massacre at Virginia Tech.

Fort said he knew the amendment would trigger the rule that could force his fellow lawmakers to scuttle the bill.

"I still have a few tricks up my sleeve," he said.

Senators hurriedly voted to table the bill and the amendments, taking it up late in the evening. The bill passed 37 to 17 and now goes back to the House, which has been more open to expanding the rights of gun owners.

Staff writer Jim Galloway contributed to this article

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Comments

By Peter

Apr 21, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this

(nothing to worry about!)

36 shootings, 9 homicides reported in Chicago over weekend

By Peter

Apr 21, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

(nothing to worry about!)

US pilot accidentally fires gun in cockpit
Mar 25, 2008

Authorities in the United States say a gun belonging to the pilot of a US Airways plane went off as the aircraft was approaching an airport over the weekend.

The Federal Air Marshal Service says it was an accidental discharge.

It is reported to be the first time a weapon issued under a federal program to arm pilots has been fired in flight.

By Peter

Apr 21, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

(nothing to worry about about!)

Man accidentally shot, killed; roommate charged

By CHRISTIAN BOONE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/20/08

A Kennesaw man was accidentally shot and killed Sunday afternoon, and his roommate has been charged in the death, police said.

Matthew Luke Melde, 20, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Adam S. Daniel, 24, police said.

Investigators said the pair, along with another roommate, were playing with guns in their home at 2638 Laurel Lane.

Melde was pointing a weapon at his longtime friend when it discharged, and Daniel was struck in the chest, Kennesaw police spokesman Scott Luther said. Daniel was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

By Jesse

Apr 18, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

i think most violent things are going to happen to you on the way TO and FROM a place that you may be going .... like walking up marietta street to philips arena .. walking to a train in a marta station... or walking through ansley parking lot from smith's olde bar .... i don't drink .. ever .. period ... but i value being able to conceal a weapon on my person after hearing about people being robbed , etc on their way to and from a place ... who is around to help you ? no one ...

i agree some law abiding citizens might be idiots despite background checks .. and accidents do happen ... but face we are all going to die eventually , and i believe you can't stop fate .. Most people who have concealed carry permits know how to operate their gun and hopefully they won't keep it chambered with the safety off ....

i just hope that if some concealed permit holder does use their weapon to protect themselves .. even from a robbery .. that our justice system will say to the criminal, "sorry about your leg" OR "sorry about your arm " to the criminal and let the honest working citizen walk free with no fines, court cost, or trouble of any kind ..... thats the price you pay for stealing ...

in egypt it would be your fingers or our hand chopped off .. how ya like them apples ??

i think the scene with samuel jackson in pulp fiction where the restaurant gets robbed is a glowing example of how the robber can lose ...

For the FBI's report of 10,177 gunshot deaths in 2006, there were 2.5 million crimes de-escalated by armed citizens, who believed they had sufficient control of the situation that they did not have to fire their weapon. "Clearly, What the people don't see tells the story 2.5 million times a year. Armed citizens play their role in crime control and they do it in due process."

Also remember , that in 2006 england had 220 gun deaths while we had 10,177 ... and there is absolutely NO connection between owning a handgun and shooting someone with it and NOT owning a handgun and NOT shooting someone ... and you'd be a liberal to make such a connection ... ha ha

By Robert

Apr 14, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this

As A 12 year employee of MARTA I for one am glad to see regular people be able to arm themselves. I have witnessed many violent incidents on and around the MARTA system. The MARTA Police are not allowed to be real police, unlike their counter parts in other agencies. Thanks to the MARTA board of directors. The same element that you see on the 11'oclock news. Is the same person or person sitting next to you on the train, bus or in that dark parking lot. Think about it!!

By Robert

Apr 14, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this

By Robert

Apr 14, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this

By Charlton

Apr 8, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this

But what if someone at a restaurant thought I was looking at them wrong and they decided to shoot me? What if their gun happened to be pointed at me and it went off? What if I pulled in front of someone and they thought I got their parking space? They could shoot me. What if their kid grabbed their gun and started shooting people? What if they just got their gun today and decided to play with it under the table?

By justsayin

Apr 8, 2008 2:06 AM | Link to this

It boggles my mind when otherwise rational people make statements about being afraid of being in the same room with a law abiding citizen with a concealed weapon permit.
Odds are, you are likely in the room with one every day, and don't even know it. What is being proposed here is to allow these same people to do what they do every day in other public places. THINK about it. Folks with concealed weapon permits have to go through numerous law enforcement checks. They are some of the most responsible folks around, by and large, proven by reams of imperical data collected in various states that allow concealed carry permits. Does making it illegal to carry in certain places throw up a force field of some kind that prevents criminals from entering these locations with a weapon?

By John

Apr 8, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this

"By Dan

Apr 7, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this

I don't trust licensed Georgia citizens to drive cars responsibly without killing people needlessly, why should I trust them to be able to handle a firearm responsibly?"

That's why you are trained to drive defensively. The rest of the argument you should be able to fill in; As to your opinion of your fellow Georgians, that certainly is painting with a broad brush. It seems apparant that you don't trust yourself with a firearm either. A man's gotta know his limitations; I'm glad you understand yours.

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