Q: Will handguns be allowed inside the Georgia World Congress Center for the National Rifle Association convention? If so, will they be allowed when President Donald Trump addresses the group?
—Dan Ciomek, Marietta
A: "Lawfully carried firearms will be permitted in the Georgia World Congress Center and the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center in accordance with Georgia law," according to the firearms policy on the 2017 NRA Annual Meetings website (nraam.org). Firearms are not allowed in the rest of the CNN Center, such as the shops and food court, the website states.
Trump is expected to speak at the convention during the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum on April 28. The U.S. Secret Service set the policy for President Trump’s speech, NRA officials told Q&A on the News via email. Firearms, ammunition, gun parts such as holsters and magazines, knives, explosives and “any other item determined to be potential safety hazards” are among items prohibited at the forum event, according to the NRA website.
The Secret Service has the authority to preclude firearms from entering sites visited by its protectees, including those located in open-carry states, according to Title 18, U.S. Code, Sections 3056 and 1752. Only authorized law enforcement personnel working in conjunction with the Secret Service for a particular event may carry a firearm inside of the protected site, according to a statement emailed to Q&A on the News.
“The Secret Service works closely with our local law enforcement partners in each state to ensure a safe environment for our protectees and the public,” according to the statement. “Individuals determined to be carrying firearms will not be allowed past a predetermined outer perimeter checkpoint, regardless of whether they possess a ticket to the event.”
Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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