New Georgia CCW law includes knives ...

[spin]

New 'gun' law includes knives
Posted: Jun 10, 2010 4:05 PM EDT

ALBANY, GA (WALB) – Georgia's bill to clarify where licensed gun permit holders can carry their weapons is now law. It allows licensed gun owners more freedom to carry their weapons, and more clearly spells out where weapons are not permitted.

When Senate Bill 308 was being debated, there were versions that would have allowed licensed permit holders to carry their gun into the non-secure areas of Georgia's airport. But the final bill signed into law does not allow weapons inside the airport terminal.

And it's now called the Weapon's Carry License, because some knives requires a license to carry.

Georgia's new law requires that if you carry a knife with a blade more than five inches on a handle, either concealed or not, you have to get a Weapons Carry License, just like a handgun.

Even without a license, you can have your gun or knife in your car, because that is regarded as an extension of your home. Airport Directors said it seemed just common sense not to bring guns into the terminal, or a school, or any other government building. But now the new law requires you lock your weapon in your car.

"Still it needed to be spelled out. So I think Governor Perdue has now done that by putting that government buildings, so that puts an umbrella over all airports," said Southwest Georgia Regional Airport Director Yvette Aehle.

***snip***

The new law prohibits guns in churches, but permit holders can carry concealed guns into bars that allow them, and parking lots. Business owners can tell you not to bring your weapons onto their private property.

***snip***

Judge Stephenson says 600 people in Dougherty County have applied for weapon carry permits so far this year and she expects that upward trend to continue.
http://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?S=12630105

note: the text of the new law can be found at:
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/versions/sb308_SB308_APP_23.htm

It just makes commonsense that if you are permitted to carry a concealed firearm you should also be allowed to carry a concealed knife. Florida also has a concealed weapons permit which allows concealed knife carry.

[PavePusher]

1. Excellent!

I can now carry my gladius in GA!

(Nope, not kidding.)

[spin]

2. I live near the Georgia border and often cross the state line ...

it was always an annoyance that I would have to leave my knife behind but I could carry my handgun with my Florida concealed weapons permit.

[X_Digger]

3. After reading the law..

.. I'm still unclear. Does 'terminal' include the baggage claim / ticketing area?

SECTION 2-8.
<snip>
"(b) Any person who boards or attempts to board an aircraft, bus, or rail vehicle with any ... firearm for which such person does not have on his or her person a valid weapons carry license issued
<snip>

SECTION 2-9.
<snip>
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, with the intention ... of introducing into a terminal any ... firearm for which such person does not have on his or her person a valid weapons carry license issued ...to:
<snip>
(1) Have any such item on or about his or her person

Terminal is not defined, and call me crazy, but the way I read that, if you had a CHL, you could go through the terminal.

Am I the only one reading it that way? Did the paper just read the bill wrong, did the legislators screw up, or am I misreading?

[one-eyed fat man]

4. This seems to be the key

"...for which such person does not have on his or her person a valid weapons carry license issued pursuant to Code Section 16-11-129 unless possessing such firearm is prohibited by federal law;"

If you have a valid weapons carry license then it looks as if carry a concealed weapon is permissible in those areas of the terminal that are outside the Federal exclusion area, that is past the TSA screening.

[X_Digger]

5. That's how I read it too, but the paper says otherwise..

Not sure what's going on. Maybe in the rest of the law (not just these changes), it's clearer.

[oneshooter]

6. And maybe the paper just says what it wants to.

[X_Digger]

7. That's always possible, but I'd expect the GA gun sites to have caught it.

There has to be something else going on here. I checked, and yes, Code Section 16-11-129 is for civilian concealed carry, not LEO, etc.