Excerpted from a statement by the Libertarian Party of Georgia:
Today Nathan Deal has decided to go against the will of the Georgia Legislature and people of Georgia, and veto the Campus Carry Bill (HB859) that would have allowed individuals licensed by the state to carry a handgun to carry a weapon on college campuses. This legislation would not have licensed more individuals, nor would it allow guns to be carried at campus sporting events, student housing, or fraternity and sorority houses. But, this Bill would have allowed individuals to legally carry a concealed firearm to defend themselves while on campus. Currently, criminals know that a college campus is a perfect venue to find unarmed victims. This law could have prevented violence, theft, and assaults on campuses (even of those who choose not to carry a firearm) by eliminating the near certainty that potential victims on campuses are unarmed.
More troubling is the view of the Governor that the State should prevent law-abiding citizens from carrying a firearm, which further restricts Second Amendment Rights. Restricting gun ownership and individual rights of citizens has long been a goal of those that believe that government knows best. What appeared to be a step in the direction of restoring personal freedoms and Constitutional rights has been removed by the stroke of Gov. Deal’s pen.
Excerpted from the GeorgiaCarry.org website:
Gov. Deal, with his veto of HB 859, the “campus carry” bill, has defied the will of the overwhelming majority of the Georgia Legislature. He has also denied a basic constitutional right to law-abiding citizens, 21 years old and older, to protect themselves against violent crime in their chosen daily lives. This veto does not even apply to the stereotypical freshman ‘frat’ boy who has been caricatured in this debate, but is too young to receive a Georgia Weapons License. It does apply to the single mom working on her nursing certificate in night classes. It does apply to the 30-year-old graduate students and researchers working in the laboratories of Georgia Tech until the wee hours of the night and then commuting back to their two young children. Yes, Governor Deal has demeaned and insulted these people and many others.
Needless to say, GeorgiaCarry.Org has worked tirelessly for years on this legislation and we are obviously disappointed. We will, however, not give up. There will be an opportunity to override this veto in next year’s session.
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