CBS News is surprised to find that in most states, it’s legal to carry a firearm in the non-sterile areas of most of our nation’s airports:
An Associated Press survey of the 20 busiest U.S. airports found that seven of them – Philadelphia, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and San Francisco – let people with gun permits carry firearms in the general public areas of the terminal.
Some anti-terrorism experts say that is a glaring security loophole that could endanger airport workers, passengers and people waiting to pick them up or see them off. Some suggest that allowing guns in terminals is practically asking for them to be smuggled aboard a plane.
It’s not a security loophole. The magnetometers and X-ray machines at the security checkpoint are the only way to actually make sure someone isn’t armed. You can make a rule that says you can’t, but guess what? The only people who are going to obey it are people like me who have a license to carry. The terrorists are going to do what terrorists do. The only way to make the entire airport truly sterile is to screen anyone coming in or out.
It’s pretty clear what the media is doing here: raising awareness of the issue, so that under an Obama administration, which they are doing everything in their power to elect, this can be one of the many subtle ways to stick it to gun owners. Remember that Obama has supported a nationwide ban on concealed carry, whether you have a license to do so or not. This would be a no brainer for him.