Gun-packing Atlanta air travelers land in jail
(Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com)
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Monday was a busy day for Transportation Security Administration agents on the lookout for weapons at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Within a two-hour period, agents confiscated three guns from travelers and police arrested them, , according to Channel 2 Action News.
So far this year, TSA agents have confiscated 87 guns at the airport, one of the busiest in the nation. By comparison, 69 guns were taken from travelers last year at Hartsfield-Jackson.
According to the TSA website:
Travelers may only transport unloaded firearms in a locked, hard-sided container in or as checked baggage. All firearms, ammunition and firearm parts, including firearm frames and receivers, are prohibited in carry-on baggage.
Sheryl Rexrode was arrested around 10:45 a.m. Monday after agents discovered a .380-caliber handgun in her carry-on. An hour later, Derek Morgan was arrested after he was found with a .32-caliber handgun, which his father said Morgan had forgotten to take out of his bag. Another handgun, a .380-caliber weapon, was discovered shortly afterward in traveler Wendy Parker’s bag.
“It was absolutely a mistake. She’s a sales rep,” Parker’s attorney, Jay Jackson, told Channel 2. “She brings the gun with her in her bag when she’s in her territory. She’s a woman just trying to make sure she’s safe.”
All three travelers were taken into custody and charged with carrying a weapon in unauthorized locations. Bonds ranged from $5,000 to $10,000.
Is there any circumstance under which you think travelers should be allowed to have a gun in a carry-on on a commercial flight?
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214 comments Add your comment
Tap Out
December 5th, 2012
3:16 pm
I was gonna make a comment, but when I read someone compare forgetting to turn off your cell phone with forgetting where your gun is…..I realized this forum is not for the intelligent.
Ueeediot
December 5th, 2012
3:17 pm
@ Lynn,
The occasion does occur when people who think a lot, but dont know much of anything, bring arguments to the discussion that are based purely in emotion and are totally illogical. Others bring arguments and comments that are just illogical.
This has nothing to do with name calling or even. Its just a fact that those people are idiots, or probably more accurately are morons, and should be identified as such.
A common problem in today’s internet blogging society is the mix of the emotional thinkers and the logical thinkers. It really is like mixing the French and the Italian and expecting them to easily communicate.
Many people have all the reference material of the whole of the history of humanity at their fingertips and still believe it is necessary themselves to think through all of life’s problems. They have no principles whatsoever. They just think. They dont know a damn thing.
Today’s blogging society is idiocracy in action.
chest fever
December 5th, 2012
3:17 pm
Every month somebody goes nuts on a plane has to be restrained by other passengers. What if that person had a gun? What if another passenger had a gun and thought that squeezing off a shot in a plane was a good idea? Again, throw the book at them. I have nothing against law abiding gun owners. These people are not law abiding.
RCA
December 5th, 2012
3:18 pm
Enter your comments here
Question
December 5th, 2012
3:19 pm
Scott: I agree.
atln8tiv
December 5th, 2012
3:23 pm
The right to carry a gun comes with responsibilities, first and foremost knowing where your gun is at all times and making sure it is secured. As a woman with a gun permit who often travels solo, I should be allowed to transport my UNLOADED (and trigger-locked) gun in a checked bag, but not in my carry-on luggage.
That said, it is every gun-owner’s responsibility to make sure they are familiar with the gun laws of other states they may travel to as well. Not all states allow individuals to carry concealed firearms and even if a state does allow it, there’s no guarantee that state will recognize a GA permit. You can check the reciprocity status of other states here:
http://www.georgiacarry.org/cms/georgias-carry-laws-explained/frequently-asked-questions/#Reciprocity
Ueeediot
December 5th, 2012
3:24 pm
I haven’t checked the latest US stats, but I believe drunk people in cars kill drastically more people than drunk people with guns.
_________________________________________________________________________________
And yet no one calls for the restriction on car owners or the licensing of liquor buyers. In fact, we still have ice chests full of beer within 100 feet of every gas pump in America.
Tinala
December 5th, 2012
3:24 pm
There is no excuse for carrying a weapon on a commerical flight. If you feel the need to arm yourself, then I suggest you book a lfight on a private jet and ehen you can take an arsenal with you on your flight.The Mayor stated clearly that the airport was off limits to weapons and if anyone is caught having a weapon inside the airport they would be arrested. So there you have it, have a gun at the airport, get ARRESTED!
Dawg Fan!!
December 5th, 2012
3:25 pm
Meli is an Idiot. It was said before, I just want to say again
Reality
December 5th, 2012
3:25 pm
@RGB –
You are really funny. You want to compare a gun to a cell phone? You want to compare a gun to a car blinker? Really?
There are different degrees of crime. In this case, I do think that a gun is just a tad more important than a car blinker….
ATLWmn
December 5th, 2012
3:25 pm
Anonymous:
You Don’t Need to Capitalize Every Word in a Sentence. See How Childish This Looks?
That’s all folks. Call me the grammar police, but there’s no sense in going the extra mile to capitalize and make yourself look dumb when it’s not necessary to get your point across. Incidentally, spelling and grammatical mistakes actually take away any credibility you might have. Just a friendly reminder.
edawg
December 5th, 2012
3:25 pm
I’m honestly torn on the gun control debate and have been for a while. To those who think we should be able to have assault weapons, do you also think we should be able to have weapons-grade plutonium? If not, why and where do you draw the line? And wouldn’t that line be “gun control”?
Road Scholar
December 5th, 2012
3:26 pm
If TSA stops you and you have a gun, take the gun away and don’t give it back, fine them a healthy fine, revoke their license to carry and then slap them upside the head. Stupidity should be painful for those who break the law/rules, not those of us that follow them.
Carry guns on board..give them to all passengers..Really? When some jerk fires and the cabin decompresses, make sure the one who fired goes out the hole. Again, stupidity should be painful to those who practice it! Donna, you are a paranoid idiot for even suggesting that; people should not kid/ be satirical about this!
Mike Crane
December 5th, 2012
3:27 pm
On September 11, 2001 a lot of people would have been better off if one or more passengers had a firearm with them on their flight with ammo. Prior to around 1965 it was not illegal to do so and when did high jackings start? 1966. How many people will have to die to satisfy the “liberals” desire to protect you from law abiding citizens? To be determined and still counting …
Ueeediot
December 5th, 2012
3:29 pm
edawg, you are far late to this conversation.
Please google DC vs Heller and catch up.
oldtimer
December 5th, 2012
3:33 pm
Chicago, New York, Washington D.C….all locations that proved controlling guns does not make a city/state safer…quite the opposite.
But, I really do not want them on a plane.
RCA
December 5th, 2012
3:34 pm
What I wonder about this article is why was it necessary to identify the place of employment and job title for only one of the three people who had guns confiscated.
scott
December 5th, 2012
3:35 pm
edawg
December 5th, 2012
3:25 pm
No cause you can’t protect yourself with plutonium.-In the sand.-No. Anything more?
just the truth
December 5th, 2012
3:35 pm
I’m a little worried about this “anonymous” guy. Hope he doesn’t ride with me !!
dave
December 5th, 2012
3:36 pm
I forgot it was in my bag, how can you forget your gun is in your bag.. it seems many people have a bad memory, They all use that poor excuse
Ed Graham
December 5th, 2012
3:36 pm
“Guns don’t kill people. Husbands who come home early do.” (Larry the Cable Guy)
Mamibo
December 5th, 2012
3:36 pm
@Tap Out – You took the words right out of my mouth.
mike
December 5th, 2012
3:36 pm
Why is that everyone who hates guns refer to firearm owners as “gun nuts”? I own a tv, does that make me a “tv-nut”? I own several firearms and I use them only for target practice because they are fun to shoot. I occasionally carry but I’m starting to do it more. People rarely look at me twice when I do. The notion that people freak out if they see someone carry is false.
Gunluvr
December 5th, 2012
3:38 pm
I’ll carry my gun wherever I want to, whenever I want to because Georgia law and the 2nd Amendment says I can; try to arrest and stop me and I’ll sue your ass in Federal Court.
edawg
December 5th, 2012
3:38 pm
Way to dodge the question Ueeediot.
By the way, that name is perfect for you. People would know it without even having to ask.
edawg
December 5th, 2012
3:39 pm
Scott,
You can absolutely protect yourself with plutonium.
AG
December 5th, 2012
3:41 pm
I would say it would be ok to carry a gun on a commercial flight IF you have a concealed weapons permit for your state (state you are flying out of) and that state you are going to reciprocates that permit.
N2thaIzzo
December 5th, 2012
3:42 pm
Ban all guns… make people learn how to fight. This country is full of pu55ie5 that want guns for protection because they can’t protect themselves any other way..
CRBA
December 5th, 2012
3:44 pm
Do we think carrying a gun on carry on luggage should be allowed? Is this a serious question? The answer is so obvious, that where ever you go outside the US, it won’t even be asked. OF COURSE NOT. Is there a reason for you to be carrying one in your carry on luggage? Not one reason. Is there a reason not to? Yes, security. Americans, guns are not toys. Grow up. The fines should be increased if anything.
scott
December 5th, 2012
3:45 pm
edawg,
May be you can but I have no idea how to use that stuff. Seriously!
Drexel Gal
December 5th, 2012
3:45 pm
Take Amtrak.
markie mark
December 5th, 2012
3:49 pm
edawg, right now in Syria, citizens armed with nothing but guns are fighting, and appear to be winning against a despotic dictatorship. They dont have tanks, helicopters, mortars, artillery. Just guns. But they have a damn good chance of winning their freedom back. If that doesn’t explain it, well….nothing ever will. I hope and pray something like that never comes to pass in this country, but history is very long, governments dont seem to learn, and history, unfortunately, repeats itself over time.
scott
December 5th, 2012
3:49 pm
N2thaIzzo
December 5th, 2012
3:42 pm
Do you want a 100lb old lady to fight a 250lb young man?
Archie Bunker
December 5th, 2012
3:51 pm
You would eliminate hijackings by allowing everyone to carry a loaded gun on a flight. Kind of like when someone goes into a movie theatre with the intent to kill. I think I heard that somewhere.
jcb
December 5th, 2012
3:51 pm
Hell NO!!
scott
December 5th, 2012
3:51 pm
markie mark
December 5th, 2012
3:49 pm
Exactly!
N2thaIzzo
December 5th, 2012
3:54 pm
^^^ Give the 100lb lady some mase or something. No need for a gun. I think people fail to remember that even if a person is “bad”, that person is still a person. Someones son/daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, mother, or father.
Larry
December 5th, 2012
3:54 pm
The 2nd Amendment grants us the unfettered right to bear arms. It does not specify where or when. The government hates this because it means we can generally take care of ourselves. Of course a person should be allowed to go armed on an airplane. Had that been the case 11 years ago, we wouldn’t have had the 9/11 tragedy at all. The police, etc., don’t prevent crime. If we’re lucky, they avenge it.
edawg
December 5th, 2012
3:56 pm
I’m actually glad to hear that Scott
My point is just that there are varying levels of weapons.
Regardless of how anyone feels, I challenge anyone to logically explain why the second amendment doesn’t at least need to be reworded.
JohnnyReb
December 5th, 2012
3:56 pm
I see the posts are divided between those familiar with firearms and those who probably recoil in horror if presented a handgun.
Carrying a handgun becomes routine like carrying your wallet or purse. It is entirely reasonable that someone who routinely carries can possibly forget to remove the weapon from a bag, especially if hurried.
Instead of throwing the book at people as the anti-gun crowd prefers, how about a background check and if there is no evidence of intent give them a warning the first time that goes in their record. If they do it again, then fine them an amount that clears their memory.
javon
December 5th, 2012
3:57 pm
if I pack my piece and forget it, what am I supposed to do when i get to the airport?
JohnnyReb
December 5th, 2012
4:00 pm
I heard a recommendation the other day that really has merit. Since the 2nd amendment authorizes the ownership and carry of firearms, and that those firearms be used for militia, etc., people who choose not to own a firearm should have to pay a fine for not being able to participate in the militia.
edawg
December 5th, 2012
4:00 pm
Markie Mark,
So basically you think as long as something is a “gun”, we should be able to have it but other more destructive weaponry should be banned? What about grenades?
OhMe, OhMy, what was I thinking
December 5th, 2012
4:00 pm
And these people really expect us to believe it was just an “honest mistake”. People who have weapons simply do not ‘just forget’ they have them. You’d better keep track of it at all times or someone’s liable to take it from you and use it against you.
So, that is where that gun was hiding
December 5th, 2012
4:01 pm
I’ve been searching for that; thank you so much for finding it. Can I give you a reward?
commoncents
December 5th, 2012
4:02 pm
I don’t believe we should be arresting everyone who accidentally carries a gun to the security check… At least, not if they are legally allowed to carry.
And don’t point out the morons who have used guns to kill people at schools/movie theaters/whatever. So what that you can name 5 people who committed crimes with firearms bc they are crazy? When you are talking about a population in the 100s of millions in the US, you are bound to find lunatics, and lunatics don’t need guns to exist.
scott
December 5th, 2012
4:02 pm
Mase only has a very short term effect.The rest of your comment is beside the point.
Sparta_Bubba
December 5th, 2012
4:03 pm
One bullet through the skin of a pressurized airliner at 20,000 ft. would be catastrophic for all including the gun nut. Should we stroke the egos of these gun nuts by being forgiving because they are so insecure they cannot go into the public without carrying a gun? No! Fines, penalties and jail time will make them remember next time and at the same time keep the traveling public safe.
commoncents
December 5th, 2012
4:05 pm
johnnyreb @4:00
hahaha that’s awesome. But now the left will try to tell us you can’t dictate interstate commerce
you’ll have to call it a tax to get it to pass…
Danny
December 5th, 2012
4:06 pm
Every grown person knows NOT to carry weapons to the airport and court house, especially with all that crying that goes on with “safety”.
So if you get caught with a loaded gun you should do jail time just for being a stupid moron.