Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2007 > March > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGunfight at the Gold Dome corral
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First, let’s make this clear: Every side in the fight says that, despite what happened last night, it ain’t over.
Before this session of the Legislature, Republicans admit, the National Rifle Association will get its vote on a measure that would permit employees to keep guns in cars parked on corporate lots.
After nearly four hours of negotiations that involved Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, other top Senate leaders, and lobbyists and representatives for the NRA, the Senate adjourned late Tuesday without taking up S.B. 43.
Very rarely do you see the NRA rebuked in such fashion — not by Republican institutions. The gun group’s representatives left the state Capitol tight-lipped and livid.
When the sun came up, they put out the following statement:
“The facts surrounding this legislation were polluted by half-truths and bold-faced lies by opponents during the 11th hour,” the NRA said. “While we are concerned that some referred to our effort to defend the merits of S.B. 43 as heavy-handed, we are unrepentant as our objective was to counter a blatant campaign of misinformation.”
The reason that the Senate backed away from the bill may have been the story of Crossover Day.
S.B. 43 was opposed by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Association of Realtors — organizations that believe he who owns the land should make the gun-packing rules.
The bill forced a deep philosophical breach in the Senate caucus between “property right” Republicans and “gun right” Republicans. “It had us fighting amongst ourselves,” said state Sen. Jeff Chapman (R-Brunswick).
Then there was the fact that the NRA had declared the bill would be the only issue legislators are graded on this year. Any lawmaker who blocked it, or voted against it, would be given an ‘F’ that would be featured on thousands of postcards sent to his district.
To many Republicans that meant a lifetime of support for NRA issues could be wiped out with a single vote, on what many GOP lawmakers considered a matter of true principle.
Others doubted the legislation even necessary. “I think this bill deals with a problem that doesn’t exist,” said state Sen. Cecil Staton (R-Macon). Most companies have a don’t-ask-don’t-tell arrangement with employees, he said.
Last week, Cagle gave a green-light to a floor debate on the bill.
But on Tuesday morning, a female employee was shot by a co-worker at a furniture store in northwest Atlanta. Democrats — who were mostly against the bill — put Republicans on notice that they would highlight the event during any debate that took place.
That gave Cagle and other Republicans pause. The GOP caucus was split, and Democrats were against the bill. Not only would the measure lose, but gruesome video would serve as a file footage for every TV station in Atlanta.
After a brief dinner debate, the conclave of Cagle, legislators and NRA designees began their meeting. Amendments to satisfy property-right Republicans were batted back and forth.
But the final straw of the evening came when Senate Republican leaders found they had been out-maneuvered. NRA lobbyists revealed they had extended their efforts beyond the GOP family, and had begun approaching Democrats. They’d made enough progress to assure passage of the bill.
(Democrats we talked to Wednesday said, yes, NRA overtures had been made, but not enough to snatch the bill from the jaws of defeat. But remember that on Tuesday, the chamber had just finished a highly partisan battle over private cities, and some Democrats may have been smelling payback.)
The bottom line was that Senate GOP leaders believed that, if the bill came out, not only would it pass, but several prominent Republicans would be caught on the wrong side. And some Democrats who might be vulnerable in ‘08 would receive important cover from the NRA.
So Cagle took the bullet and ordered the bill held.
H.B. 89, a measure sponsored by state Rep. Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica) would allow many motorists to tuck handguns under the seat of their cars, or under cushions.
It has passed the House, and now resides in the Senate. This bill, the NRA said, will undergo a transplant. The innards of the parking-lot bill will be attached to it.
Senate Republican leaders tell us the NRA will have to accede to more protections for land-owners if they want their floor vote.
In the first years of the Republican takeover, GOP lawmakers and the Christian conservatives that helped elect them engaged in many closed-door confrontations — until it became clear who was the tail, who was the dog, and which entity would wag what.
The confrontation over S.B. 43 is a similar conversation between Republican lawmakers and yet another, essential member of their base. But this one has money — lots of it — and doesn’t like to lose.
Services »
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By howard
March 28, 2007 7:25 PM | Link to this
This aint hard. cagle is a flip flopper who has shown that when a little heat is applied he’ll lie, beg, borrow and steal.
all he had to do was do what he said he would do. allow a vote. all this other stuff is just cowardice.
what a coward.
By toggle
March 28, 2007 9:12 PM | Link to this
After having showered after the primary, I’m actually warming to Cagle. He’s made some astute moves and ended up on the correct side of some tough issues.
Not ready to call him a statesman, yet, but there may be hope …
Of course the NRA kooks, er, uh, folks that is, favorite song is Happiness is a Warm Gun. Hope Casey dosen’t find himself with a laser sight on his chest.
By meaculpa
March 28, 2007 9:38 PM | Link to this
Casey could, and should, put a stop to this nonsense now. The bill is horrendous policy, but more important, it is hurting his Republican Senators. Stringing the Republican caucus out there further, there is gonna be some serious backlash on the Lieutenant Governor if he doesn’t start acting like a leader and protecting his people. Why allow this to go on Mr. Lt. Gov.?
By joann 6pack
March 28, 2007 9:38 PM | Link to this
I’m for both gun and property rights. Let companies who have their own lots to have any policy they want BUT require them to provide offsite parking and a shuttle if necessary to those who want protection. For a fewmale who may drive an hour each way to Lockheed or some other big lot employer, being defenseless is not an option.
By Bull Moose
March 28, 2007 11:33 PM | Link to this
I’m all for guns, but this whole carrying the guns under the seat and carrying them at the work place is bad public policy.
By Tony
March 28, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this
Joann 6 pack, would you like that cost for shuttle and extra parking lot to come out of your pay check? Because you sure don’t mind having government force business to pay out of pocket to make you happy. I’d say you take a voluntary half cut in pay to provide that.
I see a lot of so called conservatives and libertarians becoming borderline authoritarians/communists here by having the all powerful government abuse its power and force other citizens to bow to the will of the mob mentality.
I’d much rather have a so-called coward who knows the Constitution over a pack of rabid wolves who want the state to rule private property rights.
By Robert
March 29, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this
SB 43 is a horrible breach of public trust and the right of property owners. If a private property owner prefers that the entire US Constitution, or selected parts, be suspended while a person is on their property so be it. Then slavery could be resurrected at will on any modern day plantation, stop a suspect in any cooperative private area and search and seizure away, move trials to some agreeing person's backyard and remove the juries and lawyers — perfect.