ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A bill proposed in Tallahassee could allow people to carry guns in locations that are now restricted.
Current law bans people with concealed-carry permits from bringing firearms into airport terminals, schools, courtrooms and other venues.
The proposal comes after the deadly shooting at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport earlier this month that killed five people.
The gunman is accused of taking a gun out of his checked baggage, going to a restroom to load the weapon and shooting travelers at the airport, authorities said.
The Orlando City Commission met Monday and Commissioner Patty Sheehan expressed concern about the proposed bill and the potential impact at Orlando International Airport.
“This is an important issue to our tourism industry and the last thing we want is people coming to Florida and feeling unsafe,” Sheehan said.
Phil Brown, executive director at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, told Channel 9's Shannon Butler that the aviation authority is waiting on Congress to see if it will extend the federal perimeters at airports.
Pre-check operations are controlled by the airport and the Orlando Police Department, while other areas are enforced by the federal authorities, Brown said.
In light of the shooting, officials at OIA said they’ll make a few new security upgrades.
The airport is expected to bring in four teams of dogs to the airport to patrol. The dogs will check for devices and other harmful materials, officials said.
“We started working on that and trying to come to grips after the Brussels incident. That's an area we will continue to focus on,” Brown said.
Brown also told the council that they are working on hiring more customs agents at the airport.
Cox Media Group
