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DEL.ICIO.USAnother gunfight may be brewing in the Senate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Alice Johnson, the lobbyist representing Georgians for Gun Safety, smells a gunfight in the air.
She notes this morning that the Senate Rules Committee has put H.B. 257 on today’s calendar.
The bill adds constables to the list of law enforcement and judicial personnel permitted to pack heat in public buildings.
“The bill opens up the ‘public gathering’ section of the Georgia firearms code, and is a likely vehicle for language previously proposed by Rep. Tim Bearden in H.B. 89 and H.B. 915,” Johnson reports.
Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) asked for the bill last night, which makes it likely he would act as floor director for any amendments.
Parks have been the main target for those looking to lengthen the list of places where permitted owners can carry concealed.
The question is whether the National Rifle Association has any voice left in the Senate willing to re-start the fight over the right of employees to keep weapons in their cars parked on company lots.
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Comments
By GA Resident
April 2, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
Shouldn’t Alice’s “organization” be titled Georgian for Gun Safety? Where are the rest of its members? Are there any?
On that note, aren’t all Georgians (and humans for that matter) in favor of gun safety? Is there an organization that promotes lax gun safety?
I wish just once a decision related to firearm ownership & carry could be made based on empirical evidence instead of emotional knee-jerk politics.
Georgians: Please! Show some courage, beat back the fear mongers and use your head.
One honest person carry a sidearm is worth two cops in the bush. Pass Public Gathering relief in 2008 and allow the passage of HB 915, or at the very least, HB 89 as amended.
By Wuzzy
April 2, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
Another gunfight in the Senate? Must be the police shooting at each other as the Capitol building is off limits per O.C.G.A.
I hope the GA Senate doesn’t vote in favor of armed criminals for the second consecutive year.
By Carry Citizen
April 2, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
I always wondered the same thing about that organization. She is the only one anybody has ever seen or heard from. I believe everytime I see her name mentioned she has a different title.LOL
There is however a wonderful grass roots effort supporting gun owners rights. Georgia Carry! When 915 was released there were hundreds of them present! georgiacarry.org is there site I believe. I just joined this past week. This organization is 100% behind Rep. Tim Bearden!
They have a professional approach to fixing the most obvious commen sense legislation.The fact is that permitted armes citizens are law abiding and can be trusted. When will Alice and her suppposed group get the real facts! Other states have already had these areas open to permit holders. GA is soooo far behind in common sense laws!
Support this bill and take a stand against crime!
By carry resident
April 2, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
Vote for carry rights to catch up to other states with common sense legislation! This is a no brainer folks. With tough times coming, people are desperate and need to protect themselves!
Go Rep Bearden! And join georgiacarry.org! The grass roots organization helping GA residents and their right to carry! Oh yeah and their members show up and care about the right to protect yourself!
By notPC
April 2, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
So its okay for me, as a firearms licens holder to carry in some public places, yet somehow, I’m more dangerous if I’m in certain other public places?
That’s just plain schizophrenic thinking!
Which I’m not!
By Carry Me Forward
April 2, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
Wuzzy, criminals carry guns regardless of the laws. Citizens with Concealed Carry Permits need their rights expanded to be able to carry firearms in more places. Armed criminals have no boundaries when it comes to committing violent crimes. They’ll injure and kill you anywhere they can. If we’re allowed to carry in more places, we can better defend ourselves, our families and our fellow citizens, including you, against those who don’t care who they injure. We’re not gun nuts. We’re safety nuts who are trying to protect ourselves and others. The police can be everywhere all the time. I know. I wore a badge for 23 years. There were many times that if a citizen had had a weapon with them, they could have prevented injuries and saved lives. However, with our archaic gun carry laws, they were afraid of being arrested themselves. GeorgiaCarry.Org and the NRA, along with other gun rights organizations, are trying to look after the best interest of Georgia Citizens, not the interest of criminals.
By Michael J Cataldo
April 2, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Anyone who actually believes that strict gun carry laws prevent crimes is just plain ignoring the facts. Criminals are criminals because they BREAK laws. So matter whats laws are enacted criminals will still violate them. It is the honest law abiding people that suffer. I am forced to disarm everytime I enter a restaurant that sells alcohol, some parks, and many so called “public gatherings.” It is in these places where criminals can prey on defenseless people. We should decriminalize the carrying of firearms in privately owned businesses as well as public gatherings. Let individual business owners make the decision themselves. Give Georgians the right to defend themselves that should be our right already!
By Jetmech
April 2, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
Anyone who actually believes that strict gun carry laws prevent crimes is just plain ignoring the facts. Criminals are criminals because they BREAK laws. So matter whats laws are enacted criminals will still violate them. It is the honest law abiding people that suffer. I am forced to disarm everytime I enter a restaurant that sells alcohol, some parks, and many so called “public gatherings.” It is in these places where criminals can prey on defenseless people. We should decriminalize the carrying of firearms in privately owned businesses as well as public gatherings. Let individual business owners make the decision themselves. Give Georgians the right to defend themselves that should be our right already!
By Joe Mama
April 2, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this
I’d like to make a deal with Alice Johnson. I’ll take her down to East Macon and drop her off at about 11:00 P.M. Saturday night. If she makes it out I’ll join her organization. Then it really will be GeorgianS for Gun Safety!
By Pack N Man
April 3, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
It’s about time that the rediculous laws which prevent the citizens of this state from defending themselves recieve an overhaul. Allowing carry permitted gun owners the right to use public transportation while being armed and allowing carry permitted gun owners the right to enjoy a decent meal at a restaurant regardless whether is serves alcohol or not is a step in the right direction. Correcting the mistakes of the past only empowers law abiding citizens to defend themselves, and why is that such a bad thing? It is quite apparent that those Senators who voted no on SB257 do not trust their constituents to do the right thing when armed and in public, for these Senators, it is about power, their power, when you empower the people, you take away power from goverment. I would like to take this time to thank all of the members of the GA legislature who care enough about their constituents lives to right the injustices of Georgias ambiguous gun laws.
By elorei
April 3, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
If someone is capable of murder, robbery, rape, or any other forcible felony, are they really going to concern themselves with misdemeanor laws about where they can or cannot carry their weapon? Of course not! Laws that restrict carrying weapons only affect those people who carry weapons LEGALLY. The criminal element does not care what gun laws exist, they are breaking much more serious laws. Restrictions on where one can defend oneself does one thing only, it establishes victim zones. Think about it for just one moment. If you were a criminal, illegally carrying a gun, and wanted to shoot people, rape them, and take their belongings; would you do it where you thought people might shoot back, or where you were pretty sure you would be the only one armed? I know criminals can be stupid, but this is pretty elementary.