Before July 1, 2008, a person who boarded or attempted to board a bus or rail vehicle while carrying a concealed firearm committed the crime of boarding with a concealed weapon and the crime of carrying a concealed weapon. O.C.G.A. § 16-12-123(b);
O.C.G.A. § 16-11-126(a).
But, after July 1, 2008, a person “licensed or permitted to carry a firearm” may carry such firearm “in public transportation notwithstanding O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127(e); see
Code Sections 16-12-122 through 16-12-127.”
O.C.G.A. § 16-11-126(c). Therefore, a person with a Georgia firearms license may now legally board a bus or rail vehicle while carrying a concealed firearm.
(Direct quote from the first page of the lawsuit)
Please note first of all what the suit is about. It is NOT about carrying a concealed weapon!
It is about carrying a concealed weapon ABOARD PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
Which indeed used to be illegal. But isn't any more, and wasn't at the time of the MARTA incident. MARTA either didn't know the law had changed, or didn't care.
To reiterate: concealed carry with a license is legal (except in off-limits places)
Open carry with a license is legal (except in off-limits places)
Open carry without a license is probably legal, but difficult to do (how do you ensure that a gun in your car is completely visible from all angles?) And stupid - for obvious reasons.
And BTW: how is it logically possible for the state to "prove that you don't have a license"?
You can prove that you do by simply presenting it.
The state can claim they have no record, you can claim they lost the record. Claims aren't proof.