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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Gun Group Accuses MARTA of Illegal Search

ATLANTA (CN) - Gun-rights advocacy group GeorgiaCarry.Org is squaring off with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority in Federal Court over its policy on licensed gun carriers.

Plaintiff Christopher Raissi, who has a Georgia firearms license, was allegedly detained at a MARTA train station by MARTA officers for wearing a gun in a holster on his belt. The plaintiff claims officers had "no probable cause or reasonable suspicion that Raissi was committing or about to commit a crime."

Police allegedly grabbed Raissi's gun, made him show his driver's license and gun license, and forced him to recite his Social Security number. Raissi says they detained him for about 30 minutes before letting him go.

According to the lawsuit, the controversy stems from a meeting between MARTA assistant police Chief Joseph Dorsey and the plaintiffs' counsel last year regarding MARTA's plan to address House Bill 89. The bill, passed by Georgia's General Assembly last year, decriminalized the act of carrying licensed firearms in several places, including the MARTA transit system.

The plaintiffs' counsel allegedly asked Dorsey to provide him a copy of MARTA's policy on the bill once it was developed, but never received a copy despite four requests. MARTA failed to respond to a similar request by Raissi, the lawsuit claims.

Defendants include Wanda Dunham, chief of MARTA police; Dorsey and unnamed officers.

The plaintiffs are represented by John Monroe.

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