Cagle draws line on weapons bills

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle on Monday shot down plans one lawmaker has to expand the places gun owners in Georgia may legally carry concealed weapons.

Cagle, speaking with reporters at his Capitol office, said he had “no appetite” to revisit the concealed carry law. Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) has been considering a bill that would expand the places where guns would be allowed. The current law bans weapons at places the public gathers, a description that includes churches and college campuses.

Seabaugh’s state study committee has been considering a proposal to drop the ban on some of those locations.

Seabaugh acknowledged that Cagle has the “right and authority to be able to dictate a lot of the agenda that goes on in the Senate,” but said the lieutenant governor has always respected each senator’s right to pursue specific issues.

“I look forward to being able to sit down and talk about those with the lieutenant governor,” Seabaugh said.

Cagle was emphatic in his opposition Monday.

“Let me be clear,” he said, adding that the issue was dealt with last year. “People should be content with where we are.”

Only two bills dealing with firearms have been filed so far for the 2009 legislative session, which begins Monday. One would end the requirement that concealed weapons be kept in a holster. The other, sponsored by Sen. Ronald Ramsey (D-Lithonia), would require all handgun ammunition to be individually coded for identification.

The holster bill is sponsored by Sen. John Douglas (R-Social Circle). Douglas said Monday that he hopes Cagle’s concerns do not include his proposal.

“I haven’t talked to him directly about it,” Douglas said. “I feel like it’s a pretty innocuous bill that shouldn’t cause a great deal of controversy.”

UPDATE/THE STORY SO FAR

> Previously: A state law permitting licensed gun owners to carry concealed firearms in parks, on public transportation and in restaurants that serve liquor went into effect July 1.

> The latest: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle doesn’t plan for senators to revisit the concealed guns law, which a legislator wants to expand.

> What’s next: The Legislature begins its 40-day session on Monday.