Man Carries Rifle in Airport, Whines About Being Harassed for Carrying Rifle in Airport

Florida gets plenty of attention for its ludicrous people and laws. But it's not like its neighbor, Georgia, is all that far behind.

A metro Atlanta man named Jim Cooley told WXIA-TV, Atlanta that he casually went to the airport with his wife and daughter, while casually carrying his AR-15 rifle. In case you're unfamiliar, it's this thing, which is not exactly a sidearm. It's a full-out semi-automatic rifle.

Georgia state law actually allows guns to be carried in airports (and churches, restaurants, bars, and some schools). As long as weapons are not brought into TSA-controlled secure areas (because that's where it gets dangerous to carry an AR-15?), it's all peachy keen to wear your rifle like an L.L.Bean messenger bag.

Cooley said he was harassed for exercising his Second Amendment rights, as numerous Atlanta police officers inquired about his firearm in the airport, WXIA repots. When Cooley left the terminal and made his way into the parking lot, he says three officers followed him, and that they would not answer him when he asked why he was being followed, and then proceeded to take pictures of him and his car while he was driving away.

Wild idea, but maybe just leave your semi-automatic at home the next time you're dropping someone off at the airport. Unless you just really need to be prepared for the zombie Cinnabon apocalypse.

Lucy Meilus is a staff writer for Thrillist and is often yelled at for holding water bottles in line for airport security, which is basically just like this. Follow her on Twitter at @Lucymeilus and send news tips to news@thrillist.com.