Today (Sunday) the Atlanta Journal Constitution ran a feature article on GCO, complete with a picture of its President openly carrying a pistol in midtown Atlanta. The article is available online here. While not accurate in every detail (and the ambiguous quote from anti-gun activist Alice Johnson is simply puzzling), the article is the best press GCO has ever received from the AJC, and this report comes from the same newspaper whose editorial board called GCO’s agenda “dangerous” and “appalling” in August of 2007. Things are improving. Here is the best single sentence from the article. “Advocates for gun restrictions are anxious about the gains made by the group.”

One anti-gun activist is concerned about GCO’s lawsuits and the cost to the public treasury from GCO’s victories in court. GCO has a message for her and any recalcitrant government officials that may be reading, “Obey the law and stop infringing the right to bear arms.” Then the cost to the treasury would be zero.

Judge Pinkie Toomer of the Fulton County Probate Court filed a motion to dismiss GCO’s class action against her, claiming the federal court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case.  A copy of the brief supporting her motion can be viewed here.

The judge of the Henry County Probate Court, against whom a GCO member had filed a motion to have her held in contempt (for continuing to violate the Privacy Act regarding social security numbers on GFL applications), has asked a federal court for permission to file a response to the motion more than two weeks after her response was due.  The motion for contempt, the probate judge’s motion for more time, and the GCO member’s response (along with earlier documents in the case) can be viewed here.

Federal District Judge Marvin Shoob granted the City of Atlanta’s motion to continue the hearing on GCO’s motion for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction.  The hearing now will be August 11, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.  The judge’s order may be viewed here.

GCO has filed a motion to certify the class in its case against the Fulton County probate judge over Georgia’s law requiring a GFL applicant to be a resident of Georgia.  If the judge certifies the class as requested, this case will be a class action against all probate judges in the state of Georgia, with the Fulton County judge acting as the class representative.  The brief in support of GCO’s motion may be viewed here.

Atlanta, in underhanded fashion, asked the Court to delay the hearing on whether it should enjoin Altanta from arresting innocent people while the case is pending, and asked the Judge to rule on the motion without hearing from GCO!  As a result, in lightning strike fashion, GCO filed a response that shines the light of truth on Atlanta’s request.

The Airport and City of Atlanta have filed an emergency motion to delay the July 18 hearing scheduled for GCO’s motion for a preliminary injunction to prevent Atlanta from arresting people for carrying firearms at the Airport.  GCO has responded.  The motion, and response, may be viewed here.

GCO has filed a motion for a preliminary in junction against Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and the City of Atlanta, requesting that the defendants be enjoined from arresting people for lawfully carrying firearms in the Airport during the pendency of the case against them.  The brief supporting the motion and other documents may be viewed here.

GCO filed a federal lawsuit this morning against Mayor Shirley Franklin and Hartsfield Aviation General Manager Ben DeCosta over their illegal policy and DeCosta’s specific threat to arrest (falsely) Rep. Tim Bearden.  You may read the complaint here.

The City of Atlanta just issued a press release with a headline that declares, “Atlanta Mayor, Airport GM Declare Airport a Gun-Free Zone.” HB 89 takes effect tomorrow and it declares the policy of the state of Georgia, which is that transportation terminals are no longer off limits.  Mayor Shirley Franklin and airport General Manager Ben DeCosta are holding a press conference tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in the airport atrium (clock tower). GCO will be watching this issue closely.  If the City of Atlanta clearly states that it will follow through with its threat, then GCO will file suit before the press conference is over.

Has Mayor Franklin forgotten about her recent loss in court to GCO, back in May?