GCO in AJC
Today (Sunday) the Atlanta Journal Constitution ran a feature article on GCO, complete with a picture of its President openly carrying a pistol in midtown Atlanta. The article is available online here. While not accurate in every detail (and the ambiguous quote from anti-gun activist Alice Johnson is simply puzzling), the article is the best press GCO has ever received from the AJC, and this report comes from the same newspaper whose editorial board called GCO’s agenda “dangerous” and “appalling” in August of 2007. Things are improving. Here is the best single sentence from the article. “Advocates for gun restrictions are anxious about the gains made by the group.”
One anti-gun activist is concerned about GCO’s lawsuits and the cost to the public treasury from GCO’s victories in court. GCO has a message for her and any recalcitrant government officials that may be reading, “Obey the law and stop infringing the right to bear arms.” Then the cost to the treasury would be zero.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
I have been aware of GeorgiaCarry, but not joined. Until today! If Georgia Carry can get the AJCs knickers in a wad, they MUST be doing a great job! Congratulations on your efforts at the airport. Of course you need to be able to Carry in the non-secure part of the airport. If you travel on MARTA or through South Atlanta you want and need to be armed and you sure don’t want to stand around in the Airport Parking Lot and remove your gun and holster. That would just increase the possibility of confrontation and violence.
I read all the filings about the Airport suit and they are very well written and complete. I am looking forward to more information as it becomes available.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:54 am
Note that there is a similar article on the same day: Gun backers hit legal bull’s-eyes. This version has at the end a list of GCO cases and their outcomes. Specifically, it includes, “Stone Mountain Memorial Association —- ban on weapons inside the park. (Law changed).” I appreciate the AJC’s position, but I was under the impression the SMMA issue was still pending. Is it?
July 21st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
glad to have you make sure to visit georgiapacking.org for all the gun laws in plain english and a forums too
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:23 am
Well, we knew the AJC just couldn’t stand for a pro-gun column without some sort of retort - and today’s editorial proves it. By Maureen Dowd, it tries to state the case that the police officers in place for TSA operations are more than enough firepower, and civilians don’t need to be armed anywhere in the terminal. Phooey! I for one much prefer taking care of my own safety, not depending on the TSA police.
Keep up the good work, GCO!
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
“I appreciate the AJC’s position, but I was under the impression the SMMA issue was still pending. Is it?”
I think what the AJC meant was that HB89 changed the law to allow firearms in state parks. Which made a case based on pre-emption much better for us. Also if you look, in the same > it shows “Pending (July 2008)”.
It is confusing. As for the case itself, the AG has answered our complaint and we are working on a response. Check this link for updates (found by clicking “Stone Mountain Park’s firearm ban” under categories):
http://www.georgiacarry.org/cms/category/action-items/stone-mountain-state-park-firearm-ban/
July 27th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Unlike the rest of the people responding, I actually work out of Hartsfield-Jackson, and I am outraged at your position on carrying guns into the airport. Insuring the safety of passengers and employees of the airport should be left to trained professionals only. Ticket counters, baggage claim areas and bars are all located outside of security. I have been verbally harassed and threatened by passengers unhappy about their luggage being lost or flights being canceled, now you say these people should be allowed to be armed while they are threatening me? I have a basic human right to safety which is just as important as the constitutional right to bear arms, and I plan to fight you. You have a few thousand members while the airport employs tens of thousands, and many of their families will also agree that in addition to the constant threat of terrorism we should not add the threat of armed civilians in the airport.
July 27th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Why is there no “contact us” link posted clearly on your website?
July 27th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Every time I read an opinion printed in the AJC about Georgia Carry, it reaffirms my decision to become a member as a moment of patriotic clarity! Like coming across a utopia of common sense supported by the law of the land itself. It also shines a glaring light on those (franklin and company) who have a voice (the main stream media) but not enough intelligence to refrain from using it in public. And one thing is definite, I know who I’m voting for based on qualification, and not on hype.
GCO is the voice of the people.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
There is a link at the bottom of every page that has the contact email for GCO as a whole “Contact us: info@georgiacarry.org” and the “Leadership of GCO” link in the menu bar has all the email addresses for the officers and coordinators.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Ms. Sara Vanetten -
I also work at Hartsfield Jackson, and know of the “trained professionals” of which you speak. I am unwilling to trust my life to them, as I have far more training in the proper use of a handgun than ANY out there.
Further, I do not believe that the average criminal is going to launch an attack while a uniformed law enforcement officer is in the vicinity, and therefore your entire rationale in that vein is based on exactly zero amount of reason.
Do you know that the average time, from beginning to end, of most violent attacks is usually less than 15 seconds? Do you really believe that if one has been initiated against someone out of the sight of Law Enforcement that, before an innocent is maimed or killed in that 15 seconds, there will be time to locate LE, get them to the area, and have them intervene?
Surely, no one is THAT obtuse.
As far as an angry LICENSED person giving you pause for your safety, you should know that it is a FACT that Law Enforcement, as a group in Georgia, have more incidences of illegal violence with weapons, including murder, rape, and armed robbery, even at times WHILE IN UNIFORM, than do carriers of a GFL.
And, to beat the dead horse, unlike the average holder of a GFL, those that are NOT law abiding, historically, will fail to abide by ANY law that said that Concealed Carry of a firearm is illegal, regardless of the venue, if to so so fits their desires.
Can you feel your “facts” slipping away, Ms. Vanetten?????
Your response is obviously only based on ignorant fears, emotion, and lack of knowledge of relevant facts. Perhaps you should educate yourself, and know of which you speak, before you do.
Lastly, yes, HJ Airport DOES employ tens of thousands……but the State of Georgia has almost SIX MILLION residents, and their duly elected Legislators passed the law in question, and the duly elected Governor signed it into Law.
That’s called majority rule, and rule of law, foundations on which this Nation was first established, and under which it still operates, regardless of what Queen Shirley, tCourt Jester DeCosta, or you, believes or wants.
Please, again, if you choose to post, know the facts before you speak.
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Hello,
I just joined GCO at the gun show here in Macon today. From what i have read so far it sounds like you guy’s have really got it together. And i had no idea that there was a group out there like the GCO. I’m glad i stoped by the table today and joined. So now you guy’s are one more strong. I look forward to talking with you guy’s.