Posted on 04/19/2008 6:11:22 AM PDT by Bulldawg Fan
COVINGTON - With a May 4 deadline looming for Gov. Sonny Perdue to sign House Bill 89, which would allow guns in more public places, State Sen. John Douglas, R-Social Circle, said he's worried pressure from opponents will result in a veto.
The measure would allow the roughly 300,000 Georgians with concealed weapons permits to bring firearms into public places, such as restaurants, public transportation, parks, historic sites and wildlife management areas.
It would also allow employees to leave weapons in their car at work with permission of their employer.
A provision allowing guns in churches and public gatherings was stripped in the final version that won passage in the House by a margin of 106-57 and in the Senate by 40-15.
Douglas added the amendment to include restaurants and mass transit in the bill.
"The General Assembly can legislate all day long, but there is nothing we can do to force criminals to obey the law," Douglas said. "There is much we can do to force law abiding citizens to obey the law simply because they will. While honest Georgians will do as we say, criminals will continue on their way ignoring our laws. The result: criminals will continue to use guns for violence while hard working, honest citizens will find themselves unprotected."
Groups such as the Georgia Restaurant Association and the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association have come out in opposition of the bill.
"I am concerned the governor is under a lot of pressure to veto it," Douglas said.
But Douglas insists an expanded right-to-carry law is needed because, "There are too may examples where a mass murder was committed and nobody had weapons to defend themselves."
Douglas cited an incident at Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, on Oct. 16, 1991, when a deranged man drove his truck into a plate glass window, got out and began shooting diners.
"In the crowd was a member of the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team who had weapons in her car, but under Texas law, could not bring them into the establishment. She saw both of her parents and 22 others killed that day while she could not get to her guns," he said.
"The story of Virginia Tech is well known. Many dead students and faculty members who had no access to protection while the police did their best to get to the scene," he added. "Compare that to Appalachian State University on Jan. 16, 2002, where two students were able to get to their cars and their guns, returned, captured the gunman and held him for police. Three people died there compared to more than two dozen at Virginia Tech."
Douglas said there is a strenuous background check required to obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon, and he believes law-abiding citizens should have a right to defend themselves.
"I'm confident expanding concealed weapons rights will not result in more crime," he said.
The bill only allow guns in restaurants that serve mostly food and bans patrons from consuming alcohol if they are carrying a gun.
But Ron Wolf, head of the Georgia Restaurant Association, said that's nearly impossible to enforce.
"Are waiters now going to have to ask everyone who orders a drink if they're armed?" he asked. "Our position is simple. We think it's inappropriate."
The legislation also allows restaurants to ban guns, but they must post a sign outlining their policy. Those that do would risk alienating potential customers, said Ron Fennel, director of governmental affairs for the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association.
"We think it's worthy of a veto," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Piss on the victims,,,,,,as usual.
Governor Goofy is also trying to strong-arm all the county commissioners to allow real estate signs in the right of way on public roads.
Our forefathers didn’t affirm our RKBA, then restrict it to our homes. Could you imagine them saying that the right was forfeited when we got in our buggies or on our horses? Did they have lock boxes on their horses for when they went into the general store?
He might as well sign it, people are going to protect their families and themselves no matter what he does.
“The legislation also allows restaurants to ban guns, but they must post a sign outlining their policy. Those that do would risk alienating potential customers, said Ron Fennel, director of governmental affairs for the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association.”
This man's priority is money, not the safety of his employees or customers. If his concern was for innocent people, he would point out that a sign banning guns would encourage armed robbers to take advantage of the helpless people inside.
I wonder what these business assoc. people feel about store clerks & managers with guns behind the counter or bar? Do they prefer the business be defenseless, or that every clerk & busboy know where the gun is kept? As a customer, neither gives me a sense of safety!
Business interests should play NO part in CCW issues. Businesses don't DIE in armed robberies & massacres, people do.
CCW permit holders should be able to carry their CW EVERYWHERE they go, except where prohibited in a SECURE gov’t or military area.
The bill only allow guns in restaurants that serve mostly food and bans patrons from consuming alcohol if they are carrying a gun.
Does that pertain to Cops too??
I used to ... uh ... 'frequent' a restaurant/lounge where a bunch of Chicago suburban mucky-muck LEOs would have a monthly (cough) lunch, then get drunk as skunks at the bar. They loved showing off their not so concealed guns under their sport coats. That's the only timed I feared being in the place (bunch of assh*les).
And yeah they all drove home by themselves, hardly able to freaking walk. Many a time I thought of dropping a dime. (did I say assh*les?)
The state has no right to allow or to prevent law-abiding citizens from defending themselves. That right comes from our very own being - our nature as sentient rational humans.
It doesn’t come from any church. It doesn’t come from any government. No one can take it away from us.
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