NRA Fights for
Self-Defense Rights
in Georgia

NRA began promoting "parking lot" legislation in Georgia in 2006. In 2007, a Senate bill (SB 43) died in committee, but a House bill (HB 89) has been carried over to the 2008 session.

Read the text of H.B. 89

May 14, 2008 -- Please Thank Governor Perdue Today!

Wednesday, May 14, Governor Sonny Perdue (R) signed House Bill 89 into law. This NRA supported measure makes numerous improvements to Georgia’s Right-to-Carry laws and represents the most comprehensive pro-gun reform measure to be enacted in nearly 20 years.

This critical Right-to-Carry Reform legislation will strengthen Georgia’s current laws by:

• allowing licensed carry permit holders to possess a firearm in any private motor vehicle, while on any publicly accessible parking lot;
• prohibiting gun dealer entrapment schemes, such as those orchestrated by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg;
• allowing concealed carry permit holders to carry in State Parks, recreational areas, wildlife management areas, and public transportation;
• creating a stricter time limit for various stages of the concealed carry license application process; and
• allowing concealed carry permit holders to carry in restaurants.

Thank you to all of the NRA members who answered the call in support of HB89.  Your action played a pivotal role in the enactment of this much-needed legislation.  Without you this victory would have been impossible.

Please contact the Governor TODAY and thank him for protecting our right to self-defense by signing HB89.  Governor Perdue can be reached by phone at (404) 656-1776 or via email by clicking here.

In April, the Georgia legislature passed House Bill 89 and sent it to Governor Sonny Perdue (R) for his consideration.  This NRA supported measure makes numerous improvements to Georgia’s Right-to-Carry laws and represents the most comprehensive pro-gun reform measure to pass in nearly 20 years.  Unfortunately, Governor Perdue has yet to sign this important legislation into law. 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is looking how much support this bill has, please click here to find out how you can make your voice heard TODAY!

January 17 Update - The Georgia Senate passed House Bill 89 today, January 17 by a vote of 41-15. This critical NRA-supported legislation to protect our firearm rights now heads to the House for a vote as early as tomorrow, January 18. HB89 has been amended to include the following pro-Second Amendment language:

• allows licensed carry permit holders to possess a firearm in any private motor vehicle, while on any publicly accessible parking lot;
• prohibits gun dealer entrapment schemes, such as those orchestrated by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg;
• allows concealed carry permit holders to carry in State Parks; and
• creates a strict time limit for various stages of the pistol license application process.

These are just a few of the positive reforms HB89 will make to Georgia’s firearm laws. Help preserve our Second Amendment rights in Georgia by contacting your State Representative today and urge him or her to support and vote “yes” on HB 89.

Major Provisions of HB 89

• Protects Constitutional Rights: HB 89 protects employees and the general public against searches of their private vehicles. It does not prevent constitutionally valid law enforcement searches, searches with an employee's consent to prevent workplace pilfering, or emergency searches to prevent an immediate threat to human health, life or safety.

• Protects Employees: HB 89 prevents employers from restricting employees' self-defense and firearm rights with respect to guns in parked vehicles.
  • It does not affect firearm possession in offices, factories, stores or other actual workplaces.

  • The provision doesn't apply to vehicles in secure, restricted-access lots, or to sensitive workplaces such as jails and prisons, defense contracting firms, and other places with special homeland security protections. HB 89 also allows restrictions on specific employees based on disciplinary issues.

  • In many cases, the state requires employers to provide parking in the first place. It is inconsistent to require businesses to provide public parking, then let businesses exclude certain types of lawfully owned and lawfully possessed property from customers' and employees' vehicles.

• Protects Business: Georgia law already strongly protects landowners and employers from liability for the criminal acts of others. HB 89 strengthens those protections.
  • Under current Georgia statutes and case law, landowners are only liable to visitors for "failure to exercise ordinary care" in keeping their property safe. Property owners do not have to protect against unforeseeable criminal acts.

  • HB 89 protects employers and property owners from liability for misuse of a firearm, unless the employer himself commits a crime with a firearm, or unless the employer anticipated and failed to prevent an armed criminal act by a specific individual on the premises.

  • HB 89 specifies that it creates no "new duty on the part of the employer" or property owner, and that employers or property owners have no obligation to implement any new security measures. New security measures couldn't be held against the company in court. And if an employer or property owner was sued over criminal use of firearms in the workplace, and won the suit, the losing plaintiff would have to pay all of the defendant's legal expenses. Corporations and insurers should welcome these provisions, not oppose them.

• Some have claimed that a "parking lot" bill would raise insurance costs. But insurance markets set premiums based on real world costs. Figures from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Labor Statistics prove that corporate firearm policies can't have much effect in the real world:
  • Over the last decade, workplace homicide rates have been cut in half.

  • Violent crime, especially homicide, has generally declined for over 30 years, and workplace violent crime has decreased even faster.

  • Most gun-related violent crimes in workplaces are committed by non-employees. According to DOJ, 84% of all workplace murders are committed by strangers; only 7% are committed by current or former employees. Naturally, strangers and former employees are not bound by any company policy.

  • Most workplace homicides occur during robberies or attempted robberies, according to DOJ. Obviously, armed robbers disregard any corporate policy against possessing firearms.

  • If anything, HB 89's liability protections would reduce insurance costs.