Rep. Johnson proposes strict gun law for airports nationwide

Congressman introduces ‘common sense’ bill to protect traveling public, federal employees

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seeking to make airports around the nation safer for the general public and the law enforcement officers who patrol them, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) introduced the “Airport Security Act of 2013” (H.R. 3484).

“We live in a post-911 world where terrorists continue to look at planes and airports as prime targets,” said Johnson. “And with the recent shooting death of a TSA official at LAX, it defies logic that we would allow anyone other than law enforcement officials to carry a loaded gun within an airport? This bill is simply common sense.”

The bill would prohibit people other than local law enforcement and Homeland Security employees from carrying guns – concealed or otherwise – in airport terminals, lobbies, baggage claim areas, ticket counters and outside in pick-up and drop-off areas.

Law-abiding gun owners would still be able to carry guns used for hunting if they are unloaded and contained in clearly marked, locked cases. Airports would also be required to post signs that clearly indicate they are gun-free zones.

If passed and signed into law by President Obama, Rep. Johnson’s bill would expand Homeland Security’s jurisdiction to include non-secure areas of airports and would take precedence over any city or state laws that allow weapons in any airports nationwide. The gun ban would include public transportation stops within airports if the gun owner departs the transit station at an airport.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and its Million Mom March and Brady Chapters support H.R. 3484.

Cosponsors include: Reps. André Carson (IN), John Conyers (MI), Keith Ellison (MN), Alan Grayson (FL), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX), Barbara Lee (CA), John Lewis (GA), David Scott (GA), Jackie Speier (CA) and Henry Waxman (CA).

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