Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > January > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe override votes and the gun bill
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So, we marveled to the well-weathered lobbyist, we’re presented a strange state of affairs: On Monday, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle slows those 12 House overrides to a crawl, doing Gov. Sonny Perdue a great favor.
And on Tuesday, that same governor cuts the legs out from under Cagle by declaring himself opposed to the guns-in-parking-lots bill back by the National Rifle Association. For, we wisely noted, the lieutenant governor has pledged his word to hold a vote on the bill.
The well-weathered lobbyist flashed a well-weathered smile, amused that we could not recognize a swap of favors when we saw it.
He used small words so we could understand: For nearly two years, the Senate has been trapped between the NRA and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce on this issue.
The NRA wants employees to have the right to keep firearms in cars parked on company lots. Business types say the measure is an infringement of property rights.
By waving the veto flag this morning, the governor has just given the Senate Republican caucus all the reason it needs to kill the bill, and shift any blame to the governor. If Perdue won’t sign it, why fight over it?
As we spoke, the NRA’s top lobbyist in Georgia and the governor’s counsel were huddled in a hallway conference. A Senate hearing on the bill is scheduled for this afternoon.
Comments
By GA Resident
January 15, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
They need to overlay HB 915 (The Second Amendment Protection Act of 2008) on top of HB 89. HB 89 is a moot issue in GA, anyway, as case law has proven an automobile is an extension of a person’s home. Leave the weapon in the car, keep your mouth shut. There, end of debate on that sad case. HB 915 addresses and corrects real, tangible and perilous flaws in GA’s carry laws. Institute HB 915 in 2008, and we’ll have accomplished something we can all be proud of. HB 89 is a no-win issue for any legislator, and Sonny’s going to veto HB 89 (as written) anyway.
By ts
January 15, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
I am a huge 2nd amendment advocate. However I believe that I as a private property owner still have the right to ban guns from my property if I see fit. END OF STORY
As an NRA member and supporter…I do not support them on this issue.
By RJ
January 15, 2008 5:33 PM | Link to this
Perdue’s declaration is just another example of a failure of leadership. He continues to operate in an omnipotent fashion, justified on the basis that he makes “principled,” not political decisions. Well, some where I read that “too warm an embrace of one duty can lead to the neglect of others equally as important.” It appears that Perdue has a mental block to the fact that our State Constitution mandates a shared policy making process.
Cagle is making a big mistake by not disposing of the overrides sooner rather than later. Perdue’s major problem is his inability to listen. The sooner Cagle realizes this shortfall the better he will perform his Senate bestowed duty and thereby enhance the chances of acquiring his pursuits.
By OneForTheRoad
January 15, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
Yes. Many of us Georgia born, raised, and educated can actually see through the thinly veiled display brought to the tax-paying audience by none other than over-paid, arrogant, Georgia legislators. The sad part of it is that these legislators probably think that they tricked us into thinking they actually accomplished something. Next thing you know, they’ll figure out that we already know that they don’t talk about the things that they want to sneak by us such as legislation that allows operations such as LHR Farms to exist with no EPD oversight. But they quietly fixed that one last year. Didn’t they. It’s a good thing those good ole boy senators take their time and deliberate these issues. Just imagine what our lives would be like otherwise.
By Churchill
January 15, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
It is too bad that the Democrats have never had 150+ years to try to fix the state. If only democrats had a stab at leadership in in Georgia. If only…