Georgia: a southern state, one of the original 13 colonies, traditional conservative values…must have wonderful, freedom loving gun laws, right?
Nope, think again.
On June 8, 2010, with GeorgiaCarry.Org’s urging, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed SB308 into law. With that signing, Georgia moved from one of the strictest states (#42) in the union concerning the legal carrying of firearms by its citizens to the 13th strictest state. While thirteenth is much better than 42nd, there is still a long way to go to regain our second amendment rights. The signing of SB308 also repealed the Public Gathering laws that Georgians have lived under for the last 140 years!
Georgia’s constitution provides that, “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have power to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne.” (emphasis ours).
What part of prescribing the manner in which my pistol may be borne covers making it a crime to bear it while I am in attendance at church? Or while on a college campus or attending a college class? Or visiting a government building where meetings are being held?
These are some of the places defined as “off limits”, at which Georgians are committing crimes when they carry their otherwise lawfully possessed guns. I know that I am not a criminal when I get up in the morning and put my gun on, and that I don’t suddenly become a criminal just because I step into a certain building. So why does Georgia law make that assumption?
Georgia Firearms Laws Are Due For a Change!
Please join us in working toward our goal of a complete rewrite of Georgia’s gun-carrying laws. There is simply no reason that Georgians should live with as many restrictions on where we are welcomed while carrying a pistol. We are safe, responsible, vetted members of our communities and not the appropriate target for legislation restricting possession of guns…we’re the GOOD GUYS!
All we want is to be able to move freely about our society, welcomed by our community as armed men and women. We don’t come brandishing weapons, inflaming situations or inciting violence. We simply want Georgia’s legislature and citizens to acknowledge our right to self-defense and to respect the freedom of possessing arms.
Last updated July 1st, 2014.