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VA: Concealed weapon ban lifted in airport
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Concealed weapon ban lifted in airport
By Terry Scanlon
Daily Press
Published August 15, 2003
Despite the signs on the doors that say otherwise, concealed weapons are allowed inside parts of Norfolk International Airport, thanks to a law that took effect this summer.
The change happened quietly as the General Assembly and Gov. Mark R. Warner passed a measure that overrides a wide array of local gun ordinances throughout Virginia.
In addition to pre-empting the ban on weapons at Hampton Roads' largest airport, the new state law also overrides local prohibitions against weapons in city-owned parks in Newport News and Hampton.
Since July 1, people with the proper permit may carry concealed weapons in the Norfolk airport's ticket lines, parking lots, baggage claim areas and lounges - all the areas outside of the metal detectors.
"We don't like it," said Ken Scott, the executive director of the Norfolk Airport Authority. "But for now they're permissible as long as they don't brandish it."
The airport is subject to both state and federal laws. Transportation Security Administration officials enforce the federal law banning weapons on airports in the area inside of the metal detectors, Scott said.
Concealed weapons have been allowed all along at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, said Lisa White, the airport's spokeswoman.
Scott said concealed weapons could cause added anxiety for passengers who might not be aware that some people are allowed to bring weapons into the airport terminal, especially when people remain concerned about safety.
A spokesman for the governor said Warner asked state Del. Richard "Dick" Black, R-Loudoun County, to amend the measure so that airports would not be included, but Black refused. Warner signed the bill instead of amending it and sending it back to the Legislature.
"The governor is publicly and proudly a supporter of the Second Amendment," said Kevin Hall, a spokesman for Warner.
The Northern Virginia Republican who spearheaded the new law said it wipes out a patchwork of local gun regulations around the state. He said he rejected an effort to keep the local airport regulations in place because airports are more dangerous when guns are banned.
"There is no evidence anywhere in the country that having concealed carry does anything but improve public safety," said Black. "Because in effect these people are adjunct law enforcement."
Previously, people with concealed weapon permits ran the risk of violating obscure gun laws as they traveled around the state, Black said.
The uniform set of rules is the fairest way to treat gun owners who have gone through background checks, and in some cases safety training, before gaining a permit to carry a concealed weapon, advocates said.
For example, in King George County and Chesapeake, it was illegal to transport or possess loaded weapons in vehicles, according to Hall. And concealed weapons were banned in parks in Newport News, Williamsburg, Portsmouth and Norfolk, even though they were allowed in state parks, Hall said.
Now a group of gun owners, the Virginia Citizens Defense League, is trying to get airport officials in Norfolk to amend their no-guns signs on the terminal doors.
"We'd like the sign to reflect the law to say no weapons except concealed weapon permit holders and law enforcement, or something like that," said Philip Van Cleave, the president of the VCDL.
So far, the airport has resisted. Scott said the airport's attorneys have advised against changing the signs.
Terry Scanlon can be reached at 247-7821 or by e-mail at tscanlon@dailypress.com
http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-58894sy0aug15,0,157303.story?coll=dp-news-local-final
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878<P>
By Terry Scanlon
Daily Press
Published August 15, 2003
Despite the signs on the doors that say otherwise, concealed weapons are allowed inside parts of Norfolk International Airport, thanks to a law that took effect this summer.
The change happened quietly as the General Assembly and Gov. Mark R. Warner passed a measure that overrides a wide array of local gun ordinances throughout Virginia.
In addition to pre-empting the ban on weapons at Hampton Roads' largest airport, the new state law also overrides local prohibitions against weapons in city-owned parks in Newport News and Hampton.
Since July 1, people with the proper permit may carry concealed weapons in the Norfolk airport's ticket lines, parking lots, baggage claim areas and lounges - all the areas outside of the metal detectors.
"We don't like it," said Ken Scott, the executive director of the Norfolk Airport Authority. "But for now they're permissible as long as they don't brandish it."
The airport is subject to both state and federal laws. Transportation Security Administration officials enforce the federal law banning weapons on airports in the area inside of the metal detectors, Scott said.
Concealed weapons have been allowed all along at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, said Lisa White, the airport's spokeswoman.
Scott said concealed weapons could cause added anxiety for passengers who might not be aware that some people are allowed to bring weapons into the airport terminal, especially when people remain concerned about safety.
A spokesman for the governor said Warner asked state Del. Richard "Dick" Black, R-Loudoun County, to amend the measure so that airports would not be included, but Black refused. Warner signed the bill instead of amending it and sending it back to the Legislature.
"The governor is publicly and proudly a supporter of the Second Amendment," said Kevin Hall, a spokesman for Warner.
The Northern Virginia Republican who spearheaded the new law said it wipes out a patchwork of local gun regulations around the state. He said he rejected an effort to keep the local airport regulations in place because airports are more dangerous when guns are banned.
"There is no evidence anywhere in the country that having concealed carry does anything but improve public safety," said Black. "Because in effect these people are adjunct law enforcement."
Previously, people with concealed weapon permits ran the risk of violating obscure gun laws as they traveled around the state, Black said.
The uniform set of rules is the fairest way to treat gun owners who have gone through background checks, and in some cases safety training, before gaining a permit to carry a concealed weapon, advocates said.
For example, in King George County and Chesapeake, it was illegal to transport or possess loaded weapons in vehicles, according to Hall. And concealed weapons were banned in parks in Newport News, Williamsburg, Portsmouth and Norfolk, even though they were allowed in state parks, Hall said.
Now a group of gun owners, the Virginia Citizens Defense League, is trying to get airport officials in Norfolk to amend their no-guns signs on the terminal doors.
"We'd like the sign to reflect the law to say no weapons except concealed weapon permit holders and law enforcement, or something like that," said Philip Van Cleave, the president of the VCDL.
So far, the airport has resisted. Scott said the airport's attorneys have advised against changing the signs.
Terry Scanlon can be reached at 247-7821 or by e-mail at tscanlon@dailypress.com
http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/dp-58894sy0aug15,0,157303.story?coll=dp-news-local-final
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878<P>