This is unbelievable. First of all, for ya'll who don't know, Dulles Airport is the main international airport for Washington, DC and was also the originating airport for flight American Airlines Flight 77 which hit the Pentagon.
Some gun nuts, called the Virginia Citizens' Defense League, who openly carry guns into restaurants and shopping malls to enforce their views of "gun freedom," has successfully pressured the Washington Metropolitan Airport Authority to ease its restrictions on guns and weapons such as knives on airport property.
The thing that is most depressing about this move is that it was done without any
debate:
Without debate, the board of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority unanimously agreed to permit passengers and other airport visitors to carry guns, knives and other weapons as long as they keep them out of terminals and other buildings that access airfields. Passengers who are taking guns with them on flights still will be allowed to carry them into the terminal but are supposed to make arrangements with airlines in advance, officials said.
The action comes after pressure from an increasingly high-profile Virginia gun rights group whose members have taken to wearing firearms on their hips in public places to make their case.
Before yesterday's action, the authority barred anyone from carrying what it defined as dangerous weapons -- including firearms, knives with blades longer than four inches, bows and arrows and even sandbags -- from all airport property. That covered parking garages, access roads and several highways near Dulles, including parts of the Dulles Toll Road, Route 28 and the Dulles Greenway.
Unbelievable. I know this may not be a major issue with a lot of people, but for me, I think that it's somewhat hypocritical to say that we need to increase airport security for some while decreasing it for others. It's also sad that this move was done in the back corners of the WMAA without any public input or even a press release on their
website. If you feel the same way I do, feel free to call the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority at (703) 417-8370.