In Georgia Legislature, Tasers are the middle ground

The Taser is rarely a symbol of compromise, but it was that kind of week at the Georgia Legislature.

The House voted Tuesday to allow college students and staff to carry Tasers and stun guns on the state’s public university and college campuses.

The legislation, House Bill 792, quickly won the nickname "campus carry lite." The higher-caloric version, House Bill 859, won the House's approval the day before. It would allow anyone 21 or older with a weapons license to carry a gun anywhere on a public college or university campus, except for inside dormitories, fraternities and sorority houses, and at athletic events.

State Rep. Buzz Brockway, R-Lawrenceville, identifies himself as a campus carry fan. But he said "not everybody is going to want to carry a gun." That's why he sponsored HB 792, which would open the campuses to what are formally called electroshock weapons. Just think of them as generally nonlethal weapons that go "buzz."

Both bills are now headed to the Senate, where HB 859 could be in for a tougher fight. A campus carry measure similar to the bill was originally part of sweeping gun legislation that passed in 2014, and the House backed it then. But when it came time for the Senate to approve what became known as the “Guns Everywhere Bill,” it voted at the urging of college presidents to strip campuses from the list of acceptable sites for guns.

So nothing’s certain, but back-to-school shopping could be interesting this year.

'Religious liberty' bill's advance 'not finalized'

No formal action was taken this past week on the session's most prominent "religious liberty" bill, House Bill 757, but it managed to make headlines anyway.

Supporters were still celebrating the Senate's vote on Feb. 19 to pass the bill, which would allow faith-based organizations and individuals to opt out of serving couples — gay or straight — or following anti-discrimination requirements if they cite a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction regarding marriage.

J. Robert White, the executive director of the 1.3 million-member Georgia Baptist Mission Board, said, “It is wrong to accuse persons of discrimination who live and conduct their businesses according to their deeply held religious beliefs.”

Others weren’t so happy.

Kelvin Williams chose to leave the state, heading for Nevada. Oh, and he’s taking with him 373k, the telecom he founded in Decatur.

Williams said that even though HB 757 still has a ways to go to become law, he’s seen enough to think it would hurt his business. “I don’t want to be in a state where it is hard to attract the best talent,” he said.

Some fear Williams could be blazing a trail other job creators could follow out of Georgia as a result of HB 757.

A big area of concern is Georgia’s growing film industry, the recipient of a quarter of a billion dollars in state tax credits. In return for that investment, over the past seven years the state has seen the creation of more than 79,000 film and television jobs and roughly $4 billion in wages.

On Monday, Gov. Nathan Deal announced that HB 757 is in for a rewrite.

“I don’t comment until things are finalized,” Deal said, “but it’s not finalized yet.”

Before anything is finalized, HB 757 will have to get out of the House. Some other religious liberty bills know it as limbo.

Medical marijuana bill, sponsor lose heart

There won’t be any legal cultivation of marijuana in Georgia anytime soon.

State Rep. Allen Peake, R-Macon, announced Monday that he will no longer push for the cultivation component of his medical marijuana legislation, House Bill 722.

Peake had hoped to allow limited cultivation and production of cannabis oil, with a maximum of six private, state-licensed cultivators and producers of cannabis oil.

Since cultivation is not legal in Georgia, patients and their families have to travel out of state to obtain cannabis oil. This puts them at risk of federal drug possession charges.

Peake told the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee that he was disappointed, calling cultivation “the heart of the bill.”

The legislator had run into too much opposition, including Gov. Nathan Deal. A special commission that the governor created had recommended against establishing a Georgia-based manufacturing program.

House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee Chairman Rich Golick, R-Smyrna, said removing "cultivation and for-profit production" from the bill would improve its chances of passing the House.

But Golick also urged the federal government to “take action” on medical marijuana to give states “more flexibility.”

HB 722 would still increase the number of diseases that could be treated with marijuana, adding HIV/AIDS, epidermolysis bullosa and Tourette’s syndrome.

The bill would also protect manufacturers who ship cannabis oil to Georgia from criminal liability.

Tattoo bill highlights side effect of ink stains

Uncle Sam wants you! But not your neck tattoo.

A state House committee voted Tuesday to require tattoo studios to "conspicuously display" notices to inform patrons that getting tattoos on their face and other visible areas could keep them out of the military.

Under House Bill 654, sponsored by state Rep. Sandra Scott, D-Rex, the warnings would have to state "that any tattoo on the face, neck, forearm, hand, or lower leg may automatically disqualify the wearer from military service in the United States armed forces."

Last year, Channel 2 Action News reported that tattoos and obesity are two big factors keeping potential recruits out of the Army.

Staff Sgt. Sylvester Rogers, an Army recruiter, told Channel 2 that he was turning away “10 to 20 people” a day “just from tattoos alone.”

But what if the tattoo says “Mom”?

The legislative process after dark

Monday is Crossover Day, the General Assembly’s excuse for staying up late on a school night.

Technically, no legislation can win final approval unless the House or Senate has passed it by the 30th day of the 40-day session. There are ways to get around it, though, but it requires some maneuvering that legislators often choose to avoid.

Hence, Crossover Day is usually a long day under the Gold Dome, rivaled only by Sine Die, the last day of the session. That is scheduled for March 24.