Gun lawsuit:

Camper, gun rights group target Army Corps of Engineers.

A lawsuit was filed to force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allow firearms at Lake Allatoona campgrounds and at other lakes the agency operates,

A Paulding County man and a gun rights group have filed a lawsuit to force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allow firearms at Lake Allatoona campgrounds and on the boat ramp and at other lakes operated by the federal agency.

The suit filed Friday said the decision by the commander of the district that governs Allatoona and other lakes in the ApalachicolaChattahoochee-Flint River Basin was unconstitutional when he denied David James’ request to be allowed to bring a gun with him on his frequent camping and boating trips to Lake Allatoona northwest of Atlanta.

“He goes there nearly every weekend in the summer and camps there a few weeks a year,” said John Monroe, the attorney who filed the suit for James and the gun rights group GeorgiaCarry.org.

James said he usually camps at McKaskey Creek three or four weeks in the summer and his family takes their boat to Allatoona virtually every other weekend so his 9-year-old daughter can ski.

James asked for permission to bring a gun to the campgrounds and boat ramps “for the protection of himself and his family” but it was denied.

“It’s my Second Amendment right,” James said. “Especially while camping, there are lots of people out there and I want it for self protection. There could be snakes and animals and people are drinking at those campsites.”

James said the Corps did not give him a reason for denying his request.

“I would have been surprised if they had (approved his request). They probably think they’re opening a can of worms if they do (allow guns),” he said.

Monroe, the attorney, said firearms are prohibited on Corps property with some exceptions. One is while hunting on Corps land and another is with the permission of the

district commander.

If James wins his suit, Monroe said it would apply to all 8,000 members of GeorgiaCarry.org and to all Corps lakes in the basin, including the popular Lake Lanier northeast of Atlanta.

A spokesman said the Corps had not seen the suit, but also said the agency did not comment on pending lawsuits.

The suit said that decision violated the Second Amendment protections of James and GeorgiaCarry.org members.

The suit, filed in the Northern District of Georgia, asks that the Corps be prohibited from banning firearms. Currently there is a $5,000 fine that can be levied against those who bring guns on to Corps property without approval.