I 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5321 
To prohibit certain individuals from possessing a firearm in an airport, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 18, 2010 
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia (for himself, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. 
SCOTT of Georgia, and Mr. LEWIS of Georgia) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in 
addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To prohibit certain individuals from possessing a firearm 
in an airport, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Airport Security Act 
of 2010’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AT 
AIRPORTS. 
(a) PROGRAM TO PROHIBIT POSSESSION.—Section 
44903 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(m) PROGRAM TO PROHIBIT POSSESSION OF FIRE-
ARMS AT AIRPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Assistant Sec-
retary of Homeland Security (Transportation Secu-
rity Administration) shall establish and carry out a 
program to prohibit, except as provided in para-
graph (3), any individual from possessing a firearm 
at a covered airport, including any individual who 
enters the airport, or who exits public transportation 
at the airport, for the following purposes: 
‘‘(A) Air travel. 
‘‘(B) Meeting another individual. 
‘‘(C) Picking up cargo. 
‘‘(D) Employment at the airport. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
AIRPORT
OPERA-
TORS.—In carrying out the program established 
under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall 
require each airport operator to— 
‘‘(A) conspicuously display notices summa-
rizing the program— 
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‘‘(i) at each entrance to the airport; 
and 
‘‘(ii) in such form, and containing 
such information, as the Assistant Sec-
retary shall by regulation prescribe; and 
‘‘(B) require law enforcement personnel 
to— 
‘‘(i) monitor the airport to prevent 
violations of paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(ii) escort any individual described in 
paragraph (3)(B)(ii) who is discovered by 
such personnel to be in possession of a 
firearm referred to in paragraph (3)(B)(i), 
to ensure that such individual continues to 
be excepted from paragraph (1) by reason 
of paragraph (3)(B). 
‘‘(3) EXCEPTIONS.—The following individuals 
shall not be prohibited by paragraph (1) from pos-
sessing a firearm under such paragraph: 
‘‘(A) INDIVIDUALS AUTHORIZED TO CARRY 
A FIREARM.—An individual who, by regulation, 
is authorized by the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration or the Assistant 
Secretary to carry a firearm at the covered air-
port. 
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‘‘(B) TRAVELERS.—An individual who pos-
sesses a firearm, if— 
‘‘(i) the firearm is unloaded, carried 
in a hard-sided container that is locked, 
and the key or combination to the lock is 
in the exclusive possession of the indi-
vidual; and 
‘‘(ii) the individual— 
‘‘(I) is carrying a ticket in the 
name of the individual for a flight 
that is scheduled for departure from 
the covered airport within 24 hours or 
that has arrived at the airport within 
the preceding 24 hours; or 
‘‘(II) communicates the intention 
to obtain a ticket for departure re-
ferred to in subclause (I) at the cov-
ered airport and obtains and carries 
such ticket or does not obtain such 
ticket for a compelling reason. 
‘‘(C) INDIVIDUALS SHIPPING FIREARMS.— 
An individual who possesses a firearm in a ca-
pacity relating to the shipment of the firearm 
in air commerce and who, by regulation, is au-
thorized by the Administrator of the Federal 
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Aviation Administration or the Assistant Sec-
retary to possess the firearm at the covered air-
port in such capacity. 
‘‘(D) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.—An 
on-duty law enforcement officer of a State or 
political subdivision of a State, or an officer or 
employee of the Federal Government, who is 
authorized to carry a firearm. 
‘‘(E) CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS
ON
PUBLIC 
TRANSPORTATION.—An 
individual 
passing 
through an airport on public transportation. 
‘‘(F) ADDITIONAL
AUTHORIZED
INDIVID-
UALS.—An individual who is otherwise author-
ized by the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration or the Assistant Secretary 
to possess a firearm at a covered airport. 
‘‘(4) ISSUANCE
OF
REGULATIONS.—Not later 
than one year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security 
(Transportation Security Administration) shall issue 
regulations to carry out this subsection. 
‘‘(5) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
‘‘(A) AIRPORT.—The term ‘airport’ means 
an airport and any appurtenant building or 
area that is related to the operation of the air-
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port, including a building or area on the site of 
the airport designed to— 
‘‘(i) receive passengers or cargo before 
or after a flight; or 
‘‘(ii) facilitate arrival at or departure 
from the airport, including— 
‘‘(I) a road or section of road 
used primarily for arrival at or depar-
ture from the airport; 
‘‘(II) an airport parking area; 
and 
‘‘(III) a public transportation 
stop. 
‘‘(B) AIRPORT OPERATOR.—The term ‘air-
port operator’ means the operator of a covered 
airport. 
‘‘(C) ASSISTANT
SECRETARY.—The term 
‘Assistant Secretary’ means the Assistant Sec-
retary of Homeland Security (Transportation 
Security Administration). 
‘‘(D) COVERED AIRPORT.—The term ‘cov-
ered airport’ means an airport that in the pre-
ceding fiscal year received an amount allocated 
or apportioned under chapter 471. 
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‘‘(E) FIREARM.—The term ‘firearm’ has 
the meaning given the term in section 921(a)(3) 
of title 18. 
‘‘(F) 
PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.—The 
term ‘public transportation’ means a convey-
ance that provides regular and continuing gen-
eral or special transportation to the public.’’. 
(b) CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR POSSESSION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 44 of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 932. Possession of firearms at airports 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), an individual who knowingly possesses a firearm at 
a covered airport shall be fined under this title, imprisoned 
not more than 10 years, or both. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTIONS.—Subsection (a) shall not apply to 
an individual described in section 44903(m)(3) of title 49. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITION OF COVERED AIRPORT.—In this 
section, the term ‘covered airport’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 44903(m)(5)(D) of title 49.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date that 
is 30 days after the date on which the Assistant Sec-
retary of Homeland Security (Transportation Secu-
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rity Administration) has issued regulations pursuant 
to section 44903(m)(4) of title 49, United States 
Code (as added by subsection (a)). 
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections for chapter 44 of title 18, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item: 
‘‘932. Possession of firearms at airports.’’. 
Æ 
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