GUN FREEDOM AT FLORIDA AIRPORT ?

NAPLES NEWS

FORT MYERS — Guns and ammunition no longer would be considered
a prohibited “weapon” at Southwest Florida International Airport,
if Lee County officials approve a proposed change to a local law.

Lee commissioners are expected Tuesday to decide whether to set
a Sept. 27 public hearing to make that change to the airport ordinance
and to allow guns and ammunition on airport property.

Under an order Gov. Rick Scott signed in June of this year, Lee commissioners
already removed language in local ordinances that had prohibited
carrying guns in public parks.

Now, Lee County Attorney Michael Hunt said a change to the airport ordinance
is necessary to comply with the new state law, which says no local government
can control the carrying of firearms as of Oct. 1.

So although Lee commissioners are over the Lee County Port Authority,
which operates Southwest Florida International Airport, they
wouldn’t be able to control whether someone can enter the
passenger terminal with a licensed firearm.

“After Oct. 1, the State will have to try to figure that out,” Hunt said.

Any official who tries to enact local gun control measures can
receive a $5,000 fine and even be removed from office by the governor.

Controlling firearms and weapons at airports has been a top priority
across the nation since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) comes into play on the matter when a person
enters the final security checkpoint before boarding. At least that’s
the case now, although a request by Atlanta officials could change
that later this year.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has become a case
study in state law vs. federal law at airports.

Georgia state law says licensed gun owners can carry firearms in
public areas, including transportation facilities. Hartsfield-Jackson
has long barred guns from the airport, but that ban is in conflict
with the State law.

Airport officials asked the TSA to adopt a gun ban at the airport to
trump state law. Gun-rights groups filed a lawsuit against the airport’s
operators. The airport won the case, although the gun-rights group
is appealing the decision.

TSA officials have said that a ruling on the Atlanta airport case
could affect all 450 commercial airports across the country,
including Southwest Florida International Airport.

The Lee Port Authority has its own policing force with 32 officers at
both the international airport between Naples and Fort Myers and
Page Field airport, south of Fort Myers.

At least for the next few weeks, it’s still against the law in Lee
County to have a gun on airport property.
“If you come into the terminal with a weapon, you’re going to be
arrested,” said Vicki Moreland with the Lee County Port Authority.
“We have it happen periodically.”
The most high-profile example in Southwest Florida came in 2008
when onetime American Idol star Vonzell Solomon of Fort Myers
tried to pass through the security checkpoint with an unloaded pistol
in her suitcase. It turned out Solomon did have a license to carry
the gun and later was released to face a misdemeanor charge.

“Most of the time, it really is that ‘oops’ moment,” Moreland said
“and some people are licensed and they don’t travel much and they
just don’t know.”

[All emfasis has been added by David.]