Posted on 03/14/2014 1:17:31 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
While a handful of blue states have rushed through a number of high-profile gun-control measures over the past year, the more general trend of recent years among the states has been toward gun liberalization. Even Illinois has a real concealed-carry permitting procedure now (I still have to pinch myself over that one), and a bunch of states are still working on further measures to expand the list of places where law-abiding citizens are legally allowed to defend themselves and their neighbors — like Georgia, which is gearing up to pass new bills that will do away with a lot of the laws restricting concealed firearms in churches, K-12 schools, airports, government buildings, public housing, and restaurants that serve alcohol (provided that the carrier does not consume said alcohol). The NRA called the House version of the legislation that passed in February “the most comprehensive pro-gun reform legislation introduced in recent state history”:
-Removal of fingerprinting for renewal of Weapons Carry Licenses (WCL).
-Prohibiting the state from creating and maintaining a database of WCL holders.
-Creation of an absolute defense for the legal use of deadly force in the face of a violent attack.
-Removal of the sweeping restrictions on legally carrying a firearm with a WCL in churches and bars, leaving this decision to private property owners.
-Lowering the age to obtain a concealed WCL for self-defense from 21 to 18 for active duty military, with specific training.
-Repealing the unnecessary and duplicative state-required license for a firearms dealer, instead requiring only a Federal Firearms License (FFL).
-Prohibiting a ban on firearms in public housing, ensuring that the right to self-defense should not be infringed based on where one calls home.
-Codifying the ability to legally carry, with a WCL, in sterile/non-secure areas of airports. …
-Allowing school systems to decide whether staff and faculty may carry a firearm on school property, pending approved training, similar to the NRA’s National School Shield program.
-Allowing the lawful carry by WCL holders in government buildings where it is not currently restricted or security screening personnel are posted during regular business hours.
The state Senate passed its own version earlier this week that somewhat mitigated a few of the liberalizations — giving churches the option to “opt in” to allowing people to carry concealed, for instance — but generally, it looks like at least some version of these actual common sense (and I don’t mean “common sense” the way hyper-progressives like Nanny Bloomberg use it) gun reforms could make it through the state legislature next week. I remember a few years ago when my own home state of Virginia passed liberalizing gun laws that included allowing people to carry concealed in alcohol-serving establishments, the state Democrats were flipping out about Virginia turning into the “wild wild West” — and what actually happened? Gun violence went down, of course.
The lone exception to Georgia’s reforms, however, is college campuses. That’s a whole other ball game, apparently:
Republican lawmakers abandoned a push Tuesday to decriminalize carrying a gun on Georgia’s college campuses as they try to rally support for legislation that would allow firearms in churches, bars and arm school teachers.
State Rep. Alan Powell, R-Hartwell, made the concession over college campuses as a political compromise and a tactic to pressure the Senate into taking up the gun legislation.
The original proposal approved by House lawmakers is now being considered by the Senate. It would have made carrying a gun on campus a civil violation punishable by a maximum $100 fine rather than a crime. University and college officials in Georgia have strongly opposed weakening prohibitions on weapons, including a failed plan last year that would have let students with a state-issued license to carry to bring their weapons onto campus.
Powell said trying to overcome opposition from the University System of Georgia would have been difficult.
“They are a fourth branch of government,” he said. “They carry an enormous amount of influence.”
I just wish Virginia and Georgia would recognize each other’s concealed carry permits.
I would like to know the politics involved whether 2 states reciprocate ccw’s.
So would I.
As far as I know, Georgia and Virginia have no disputes which would prevent them from establishing reciprocity. I don’t even know whether one state is to “blame” and if so which one it is.
I just know that Georgia is the only state in the southeastern United States that does not recognize my Virginia permit, and it makes it a pain in the ass to travel by car down I95.
For “Open Carry” and for “Concealed Carry”,
Georgia requires you to obtain a “Weapons Carry License”.
The swimming pool and shower should be the only place you can’t carry a gun... and then only because it should be illegal to abuse the defenseless firearm in such a manner.
Hell Georgia and bordering South Carolina don’t have reciprocity.
Thinks Glock.
Agreed.
Not after what they did to the bill.
From an e-mail I got today:
They stripped out the carry provisions and added the “Little Lautenberg Gun Ban.”
Why are Georgia Republicans siding with billionaire Playboy anti-gun Mayor Michael Bloomberg?
“Earlier this week, Republican State Senators Jesse Stone and Hunter Hill rammed Bloomberg-style gun control through the Senate Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.
They took a gun bill, HB-875, and gutted it at the eleventh hour.
They even added an anti-gun compromise known as the “Little Lautenberg Gun Ban.”
This would ban a whole new class of people from getting a weapons license in Georgia for something as simple as spanking your child too hard or getting into verbal disagreement with your ex-spouse.
Similar legislation was passed at the federal level in the late 1990s — the Lautenberg Gun Ban.
It has disarmed hundreds of thousands since it’s enactment.
But I’m afraid what Stone and Hill did this week gets even worse.
The new version of HB-875 also:
*** GUTTED “church carry” and,
*** Added a brand new “Mental Health Mandate,” banning those who receive “involuntary treatment” from possessing a firearm!
As you know, President Obama and Billionaire Bloomberg are hell-bent on finding new ways to erode the Second Amendment rights of as many Americans possible.
But in order to do that, they NEED states like Georgia to pass these new “Mental Health Mandates.”
The goal is to find and label as many people “prohibited persons” as possible in order to strip them of their gun rights.
That’s why Sen. Hill and Sen. Stone’s changes are music to the gun-grabbers ears.
Imagine, being stripped of your gun rights — possibly for LIFE — for something as simple as being ordered to an hour of counseling a week.
That’s why your National Association for Gun Rights and our allies, Georgia Gun Owners, fought tirelessly to defeat this new “Mental Health Mandate” earlier this year.
After we exposed this scheme in committee, lawmakers flinched and made several changes to the bill.
But now they’ve brought back all the dangers we warned of.
And insiders are saying Senator Stone and Senator Hill aren’t acting alone.
The word is that this is all just a part of Republican Leaderships plot with only two days left in session.
They’re giving gun owners the business — just like they always do — year after year!
Please take a moment to do these three things:
1.) Contact Governor Nathan Deal
By Phone >>> 404-656-1776
On Facebook >>> https://www.facebook.com/GovernorDeal
2.) Contact Lt. Governor Casey Cagle
By Phone >>> 404-656-5030
On Facebook >>> https://www.facebook.com/caseycagle
3.) Contact Sen. President Pro Temp David Schafer
By Phone >>> 404-656-0048
On Facebook >>> https://www.facebook.com/davidshafer
Tell them you will not support any compromise of your gun rights and that you expect them to stop trying to kill gun bills!
You just won’t be able to find .22LR AMMO at a recent price.
Ditto SC and GA.
Whoa!
If they pass that I might have to start avoiding Georgia altogether - which will add several hours to my drive when I travel from Virginia to Florida...
When is sine die?
(or as I like to call it “sign or die”)
Our state just decided that government buildings that don’t have in place security to prevent illegal carry (metal detector and armed guard) now must allow concealed carry.
That’s why they make stainless steel ones
I see that you're a fellow Virginian. Do what I did: get a non-resident Utah permit. With that, you're legal in Georgia.
Be forewarned, it's a bit pricey. But since I have to go through Georgia from time to time, it's worth it.
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