Airports: firearms: arrest.

Under existing law it is a misdemeanor to knowingly possess a firearm within any sterile area of an airport or a passenger vessel terminal. Existing law also generally prohibits the carrying of concealed firearms without a permit. Existing law authorizes a peace officer to make a warrantless arrest of a person for a violation of the provisions of law prohibiting the carrying of a concealed firearm when the violation occurs within an airport in an area to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property. This bill would require a peace officer to arrest a person for violating the provisions of law prohibiting the carrying of concealed firearms when the offense occurs within an airport, as defined, in an area to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property, and the person does not have a valid concealed weapons permit. The bill would also require the peace officer to confiscate the firearm. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption that the area to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property begins wherever signs have been posted notifying airport users that the possession of restricted items is prohibited.