Mayor Kasim Reed on Security at City of Atlanta Facilities-Press Release
First I want to say the carry law goes too far. But I note it does not go as far as some critics claim. Yes a background checked and licensed gun owner carrying “CCW” could enter a restaurant that serves alcohol, but it would still be a crime for them to consume any alcohol at all. Existing gun restrictions in official buildings can continue if the provisions of the law are followed.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/01/2014
Statement from Mayor Kasim Reed on Security at City of Atlanta Facilities
ATLANTA - As Mayor, I have made public safety the top priority of my administration. Accordingly, in response to a new statewide gun law that took effect today, the City has taken extra security measures to keep employees and citizens safe at our facilities.
Effective today, City recreation centers with extensive summer programming will be staffed with security officers to screen entrants and prevent firearms from entering the buildings.
With the exception of certain public safety officials and employees, there is no place for firearms in a city facility. Every City of Atlanta government facility that screens the entrance into the facility with security personnel will continue to prohibit firearms. Furthermore, City of Atlanta employees have all been notified that the new state law does not authorize them to carry firearms while on duty or store weapons in personal vehicles that are parked in secured employee parking lots.
The proliferation of guns in this country poses a serious threat to public safety. The city is taking common-sense measures to secure our buildings and keep our citizens safe.
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So before the new law was passed and signed, anyone could have illegally carried a gun into the facilities in question to commit revenge, mass shootings, whatever. Now that licensed gun owners had carry restrictions eased (arguably an unwise change but beside the point today) the buildings are getting increased security people.
The Mayor by way of this press release has called out licensed gun owners as a greater threat to public security than the armed criminals that are also there. As a bonus the policy is likely a violation of the new law, which provides exceptions for places with metal detectors etc. You know places like… official city run buildings.
What the Governor had to say after the bill easily passed
“Roughly 500,000 Georgia citizens have a permit of this kind, which is approximately 5 percent of our population. License holders have passed background checks and are in good standing with the law. This law gives added protections to those who have played by the rules — and who can protect themselves and others from those who don’t play by the rules.”
A license holder who enters or attempts
to enter a government building carrying a weapon where ingress is restricted or screened by security personnel shall be guilty of a misdemeanor…,