New Georgia gun law allows firearms in bars, churches and some schools
The residents of Georgia will soon be allowed to carry their firearms in churches, government buildings, bars, some schools and most of the airpors. The Republican governor signed the bill into law on Wednesday sparking a divided response.
CNN details how Republican Governor Nathan Deal signed HB 60, the so-called ‘Guns Everywhere Bill,’ into law which has riled anti-gun advocates. The law allows church leaders to ban guns in the church if they choose, legalizes silences for hunting purposes and only school officials may carry guns in school zones.
“People who follow the rules can protect themselves and their families from people who don’t follow the rules,” Deal said. “The Second Amendment should never be an afterthought. It should reside at the forefronts of our minds.”
GeorgiaCarry, which lobbied for the bill, calls it “meaningful pro-gun legislation,” despite it being watered down from the group’s perspective. Still, the group has lauded the legislation, which will go into effect July 1. Americans for Responsible Solutions opposed the bill, calling it “extremism in action.”
Concealed carry permits are necessary for Georgia citizens to possess firearms. Citizens must be 21 years of age to obtain a gun license; the exception under HB 60 are soldiers that are at least 18 and have completed basic training.
The governor said the law “will protect the constitutional rights of Georgians who have gone through a background check to legally obtain a Georgia Weapons Carry License.
“Roughly 500,000 Georgia citizens have a permit of this kind, which is approximately 5 percent of our population. License holders have passed background checks and are in good standing with the law. This law gives added protections to those who have played by the rules — and who can protect themselves and others from those who don’t play by the rules.”
“Among its many extreme provisions, it allows guns in TSA lines at the country’s busiest airport, forces community school boards into bitter, divisive debates about whether they should allow guns in their children’s classrooms, and broadens the conceal carry eligibility to people who have previously committed crimes with guns,” said Pia Carusone, Americans for Responsible Solutions’ senior adviser.
The bill will go into effect on July 1 this year.
[…] New Georgia gun law allows firearms in bars, churches and some schoolsThe Global Dispatch, on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 05:56:15 -0700Kim Kardashian at gun range back in Nov The residents of Georgia will soon be allowed to carry their firearms in churches, government buildings, bars, some schools and most of the airpors. The Republican governor signed the bill into law on Wednesday … […]