The Governor of Georgia, Sonny Perdue, stood up for concealed carry rights. He stated that law abiding citizens with valid concealed carry permits should be able to carry in non-sensitive areas of airports. Such a rule would allow for personal safety and self defense, without harming airport security:
Although anti gun groups are playing this statement up as though it is a big deal, it is nothing but common sense protection of law abiding citizens. The fact is that criminals will carry a gun in spite of gun control laws, and such laws only leave law abiding citizens disarmed. As the Governor stated:
If my wife wanted to carry a gun, if she was going from the parking lot, walking from one of those far parking lots to pick up a grandchild or something like that, I think that’s a good idea
Governor Perdue’s statement was in response to a new Georgia law that allows individuals who pass background checks to carry concealed weapons on public transportation, in state parks, and restaurants that serve alcohol. Rather than obey the law, airport officials threatened to arrest a state legislator who had announced he planned to bring a handgun to the airport when he went there to pick up visitors. The pro gun rights group GeorgiaCarry.org has sued to protect the rights of law abiding Georgia residents to carry a concealed firearm for self defense.