Posted on 02/13/2003 3:58:26 AM PST by from occupied ga
Atlanta, Wednesday, February 12) -- The HB197 Stealth Triggerlock bill passed the Georgia House Judiciary Committee yesterday.
A key vote on the Self-Defense amendment to protect your right to keep guns ready for self-defense has been delayed until HB197 reaches the floor of the House. That could happen as early as Fri. morning Feb. 14.
The anti-gunners pushing HB197 panicked Monday after it looked like gun owners might pass the Self-Defense amendment in committee.
Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Dunwoody), the front man for HB197, went running to House Republican leaders to complain Rep. Warren Massey (R-Winder) was bringing too much heat on Republican members of the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Massey withdrew from sponsoring the Self-Defense amendment yesterday. Many gun owners were disappointed. HB197 then quickly passed the committee by a vote of 18 to 1, with only Rep. Pam Stephenson (D-Lithonia) voting against it she said because the committee stripped out an exception for victims of domestic violence.
House Pro-Gun Leader Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta) will offer the Self-Defense amendment to HB197 directly from the floor when it comes before the full House.
That could happen as early as Fri. morning Feb 14.
CSG Legislative Director Bill Phillips helped manage the HB197 debate Monday in committee. He said, "Rep. Massey carried the ball for gun owners as far as he could. He forced the anti-gunners to make two big mistakes:
1. They admitted HB197 is a stealth triggerlock bill: you'll have to lock up your gun so it's not ready for self-defense or else face going to jail.
2. They showed they're scared witless of the Self-Defense amendment to HB197 because it guts their Stealth Triggerlock scheme."
The Self-Defense amendment to HB197 says "keeping or storing a firearm in such a manner that it is unlocked or otherwise ready for immediate use in self-defense shall not be considered criminal negligence."
The CSG Legislative Director added, "House Pro-Gun Leader Rep. Bobby Franklin is chomping at the bit to force a vote on the Self-Defense amendment so gun owners can know how their Reps. stand on this vital issue. Bobby couldn't do it before because he wasn't on the committee. Now the bill is out of committee, and he can take charge on the floor."
Rep. Franklin said passing the Self-Defense amendment depends on one thing: you putting pressure on your own state Rep. to vote right.
If HB197 becomes law without the Self-Defense amendment, anti-gun officials could come to your home or in your car, arrest you, and confiscate your guns if they're not locked up.
It's crucial you call the office of your state Representative(s) as soon as possible and leave a message saying vote for the Self-Defense amendment to HB197.
Meanwhile, the NRA is still on the sidelines. They're scared anti-gunners will claim they're against children. The NRA lobbyist told the House Judiciary Committee the NRA is neither for the bill nor against it. Of course anti-gunners are saying "the NRA is not opposed to HB197" which is only half the truth.
You need to act to defend your right to keep and bear arms. What happened in committee earlier this week is history. You need to call again. Contact the office of your own State Rep. as soon as possible and leave a message saying vote for the Self-Defense amendment to HB197.
ACTION ITEMS
Don't panic. All you have to do when someone is killing you and your family is to say "Please wait for me to unlock my gun, go to the other room and unlock my ammo, load my gun and then shoot you." See how easy that is? </sarcasm off>
Honest question - Didn't I study something about a Second Amendment to the US Constitution or was I just dreaming?
"The Tree of Liberty must sometimes be refreshed with the blood of tyrants and patriots."
Yes you are dreaming! Proof, if demonrats can't see it, it does not exist.
Whatever he feels personally on this subject, his livelihood is dependent on the fanatically anti-gun Cox Communications organization, and they may let him rant a bit about gun control, but if he were to suggest anything as effective as the talk radio assault on the proposed TN income tax, he'd be out on his a$$ before you could say "Ann Cox Chambers loves FDR and Joe Stalin" and he knows it.
I checked your profile page and have to say THANK YOU for your service to our Country. FMCDH
A BILL to amend Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses, so as to state legislative findings; to define criminal negligence; to change the definition of cruelty to children and to provide for third degree cruelty to children; to provide for the crime of endangerment of a child under the age of 16; and for other purposes.
Hmm. Other purposes indeed. Part of the actual text reads:
Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses, is amended in Code Section 16_2_1, relating to the definition of a crime, by designating the existing Code section as subsection (a) and adding a new subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) Criminal negligence is an act or failure to act which demonstrates a willful disregard or wanton and reckless disregard for the safety of others who might reasonably be expected to be injured thereby."
Well there we have it, disregard for the safety of others. How else might evil legislators interpret this vague idea? Mere ownership of guns or ammo? Owning a big dog? Speeding?
I also e-mailed my Senator to "pre-register" since I'll be going on active duty next week and won't be able to follow it's progress.
Dear Lord, what a messed up House it is that Roy built.
Subject: Please Protect Spouses of Deployed Military PersonnelDear [HouseRep],
I am extremely concerned that a bill currently before the House could place a large number of your constituents, specifically the spouses of deployed military personnel, at increased risk of crime or, ironically, of criminal prosecution. As local military units mobilize and deploy, they leave behind families who experience increased levels of venerability and anxiety. These families should not have to worry about protecting themselves while alone in their own homes.
House Bill 197, as currently written, is a stealth trigger-lock bill that would make law-abiding citizens reluctant to maintain a self defense weapon in a ready state. The vagueness of the wording could be used to criminalize law-abiding military spouses who keep firearms for self defense. Should you have any doubt that this is the case, I urge you to consider the words of one of the Bill's co-sponsors, Mary Margaret Oliver, when referring to a proposed amendment to clarify the language. To wit: “Mr. Chairman, the Massey amendment means we won't be able to prosecute anybody for having an unlocked gun." This stealth anti-gun legislation has no place in our state.
The Self Defense Amendment would clarify this vaguely worded legislation in an appropriate way to ensure law-abiding Georgians would not potentially be criminalized by a bad law. The amendment to HB197 says "keeping or storing a firearm in such a manner that it is unlocked or otherwise ready for immediate use in self-defense shall not be considered criminal negligence." Please support the amendment to be offered on the floor by Representative Franklin.
Unfortunately, I will be unable to follow the progress of this legislation because I will be going on active duty next week. I trust that the protection of my family and rights under the State Constitution and the U.S. Bill of Rights are safe in your hands while I am away. I look forward to seeing your strong support on this.
Sincerely,
[LTCJ]
I e-mailed this out to the ten Representatives covering the areas around Ft. Stewart, Hunter AAF, and Kings Bay using the address {First Initial}{Last Name}@legis.state.ga.us which seems to be the generic e-mail address format up in the Northern Kingdom.
Oddly enough, the ones to Republicans seem to have gone through but the ones to D's bounced.
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