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
joel
December 5th, 2012
7:09 pm
OK, I really doubt that any of these people purposely tried to smuggle a gun onto the plane. They had a memory lapse because they are human beings. Get over it. They probably weren’t being willfully ignorant and prejudiced like the people who think anyone carrying a gun is a ticking time bomb (that’s only true if they have a badge to go with the gun).
moderate
December 5th, 2012
8:23 pm
The original article confused two different issues, whether guns should be allowed on planes and what to do about these individuals who had guns in their luggage.
On issue #1, I’m a gun owner, target shooter, and have a carry permit. However, our current culture and world situation makes carrying guns on aircraft a very bad idea. I don’t think there’s much disagreement on that particular point.
With regard to “accidentally” having a gun in your carry-on, use a little common sense… These are typically not stupid people, and they are often frequent travelers. We (and they) all know that a gun will almost certainly get detected (and good for that). I travel and use the same bag for trips of many types. Sometimes on a road-only trip to a client site, I’ll carry a pistol for motel protection. I check my bag thoroughly before flying and have never had a problem other than a couple of forgotten pocket knives (the shame of it!). But I can see someone getting in a rush and forgetting to check. These people are not terrorists! Why is it that you hand-wringers simply want to criminalize everything you don’t like. People make mistakes; why give someone a criminal record (and many of you say put them in jail) for a mistake does occur.
I think the phrase is.. “Let he who is without sin……….”
vuduchld
December 5th, 2012
11:19 pm
One thing for sure, you Jawjians have become poster children for stupidity
noguns
December 5th, 2012
11:23 pm
the government needs to start banning a lot of these guns—too many people have guns and are causing all these shootings and crimes. The government needs to limit guns to only certain people and only small guns—I’m tired of all the guns in this country!
jim
December 6th, 2012
3:32 am
I think everybody should be able to carry a gun onboard, Do you think 911 would have happened if afew passengers had guns?
globeflyer
December 6th, 2012
8:07 am
No.
Alpha23
December 6th, 2012
9:06 am
After reading several of these remarks, I can see why the US is in the shape it is now! The liberal mind is not a ‘wondrous’ thing!
blkshepherd
December 6th, 2012
9:31 am
As the owner of a 38 special. The weapon never leaves my home. Is not laying around in the open (I live alone) There is NO WAY if I were to carry it with me anywhere and not Remember that I have it, No way. I am constantly conscience and aware I have it with me.
These people are idoits and should be fined so that in the future they will remember the huge hole left in their pocket from the fines, not to mention record that that they will receive, jail time, missing their flights, ruining their plans, I would say. They will never ever forget again. Fine them heavy
As I stated I own a gun and Never forget it is in my possesion, never, actually I stopped carring one because one was stolen out of my car when my keys were stollen and car went into and the only reason the car not stolen is because it had a anti theft lock inwhich if you dont know how to diactivate the system the car will not crank but that didnt stop the thief from stealing whatever was in the car, my gun included so.so much for leaving a weapon in your car, if the car is broken into, chances are they will find your weapon and it will be stolen so leaving guns in cars do not protect them and not the best idea.
But my thing is, you KNOW you are going to the airport, why on earth do you need to carry a gun? Did you NOT pack before you left the house? who packed your bags?
I do not buy the excuse I forgot it was in my bag, You have no business putting a loaded weapon in your bag when you know you are about to go to the Airport, court house, any place of high security. As one post said if you cant remember you have a loaded weapon on you, you should not be allowed to own one period because your mind is not all the way there.
will
December 6th, 2012
10:55 am
A citizen pays his taxes that support the security and justice systems to secure his safety and rights. He legally owns and carries a gun to further protect himself. It would be a very rare citizen who is unaware that a gun will easily be detected by an airport scanner. If for some reason that citizen intended to do harm on an airplane, would he knowingly put his gun in a bag and put it though security?
This law-abiding citizen, likely productive and busy, unknowingly puts his bag with gun on the conveyer belt. In a sane world, how would such a situation be resolved?
Currently, the citizen is handcuffed, humiliated, placed in a cage with career criminals for a period of time, and is penalized in the five figures with fines and legal fees.
What if this were to happen: the security authorities, paid for by this citizen, inform the citizen he seems to forgot he had a gun in his bag ( a gun the citizen has a legal right to own and carry), and suggest the citizen take the gun back to a secure place?
Anonymous
December 6th, 2012
1:02 pm
To EVERYONE in This Forum:
Listen…, I did NOT let My Emotions get in The Way when there was a Debate as to whether or not a Person should or should not have a Firearm at The Airport, or in Their Carry-on Bag.
I only Stated The Law as is found within The Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
Whether You like it or not…, Georgia is a Gun FREINDLY State, as Georgia ALLOWS: Open Carry or Concealed Carry, either Loaded or Unloaded, of: Handguns and Rifles and Shotguns and Knives, in any Location ANYWHERE in This State other than an Unauthorized Location. While Handguns and Knives with Blades Greater than 5 Inches in Length Require a Georgia Weapons Carry License while in Public, no License is needed for any other Firearm or Weapon.
Georgia ALLOWS Firearms at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, every other Airport in Georgia, and on MARTA Property and inside MARTA Rail-Cars and Buses, again…, whether You like it or not.
Georgia Preempts Firearm and Knive Regulation to The State, Similiar as to how 43 other States do, and The City of Atlanta or Clayton County is Powerless to Ban Firearms or Knives from The Airport.
Again…, like a said before, a Crime is ONLY Committed, if and only if, a Person takes a Weapon to that Portion of The Airport which is “Restricted” Pursuant to Federal Law. The Term “Restricted” only Includes The TSA Checkpoints and The Concourses.
The Law is The Law. Many Times I have had to Explain to others that Emotion Enforcement and Law Enforcement is Two Totally Different Issues. Police Officers, Prosecutors, and Judges CANNOT Allow Their Emotions on Guns to get in The Way of Their Official Duties, again…, whether They Agree on Gun Control or not.
I do not Deserve to be Labeled as: “[a Person who should be] Shot in The Face” Solely for Reiterating The Laws of The State of Georgia, but I should NOT Commit Acts of Name Calling either, so I Apologize to Whomever Meli is.
However, Georgia, like 43 other States, ALLOWS Firearms in Airports and on Airport Property!
Noflylist
December 6th, 2012
3:54 pm
The biggest sissies carry the biggest guns.
Andy
December 6th, 2012
3:55 pm
I wonder how many of you anti-gun zealots would have been thankful that there were no handguns or rifles on those planes that were rammed into the twin towers in 2001 if YOU were on them. Yep, by golly, we’re going to get smashed all over the ground and into a building, but at least those eeeeeevvvvvvvvillllllllll guns aren’t on the plane.
You people sicken me.
commoncents
December 6th, 2012
3:59 pm
blkshepherd-
Your post is nonsense
“As the owner of a 38 special. The weapon never leaves my home…There is NO WAY if I were to carry it with me anywhere and not Remember that I have it, No way. I am constantly conscience and aware I have it with me. ”
So does it leave your home or not? You stated both in your opening paragraph.
A. S. Mathew
December 9th, 2012
8:29 am
Now the Postal department employees ask the question whether the package has an liquid or flammable items. Likewise, the person all the way up in the front of the passenger’s line must ask the question, ” Do you carry any weapon”?. This is quite a joke, how some people forget to take the gun out of their carry on bags-they don’t come to the airport barefooted or straight from the bed.