Georgia: Important NRA-Backed Bills Introduced This Week

Two NRA-backed bills of importance to Georgia gun owners, sportsmen and Second Amendment supporters, were introduced this week:

Senate Bill 101, sponsored by state Senator Frank Ginn (R-47), was introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Non-Civil Committee for consideration.  This comprehensive bill takes steps to ensure protection and fortification of our Second Amendment rights.  SB 101, if passed and enacted into law, would make the following changes:

• Repeals the state licensing requirement for Federal Firearm License (FFL) holders.  These lawful dealers are already subject to extensive federal oversight and state law only imposes unnecessary and duplicative administrative fees and requirements.
• Prohibits public housing authorities in Georgia from prohibiting or restricting a tenant from lawfully owning or possessing a firearm.  This would ensure that citizens who reside in public housing are treated fairly under the law and afforded the same opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to self-defense as citizens who own or rent their own homes.
• Grants full recognition to a person licensed to carry a handgun in any other state to carry in compliance with state law while visiting Georgia.  This legislation would ensure that the right to self-defense does not end at the Georgia state line.

Senate Bill 93, sponsored by Senator Bill Heath (R-31), was introduced and referred to the Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee for consideration.  SB 93 would allow hunters in Georgia to use lawfully-possessed suppressors (also referred to as silencers) on firearms while hunting.

Currently, more than half of the states allow hunters to use suppressors while hunting.  There are numerous benefits to hunting with suppressed firearms, including:

• Increased use of suppressors will help to eliminate noise complaints that are frequently an excuse to close hunting lands throughout the country.  This will protect hunting areas well into the future.
• Using a suppressor while hunting will reduce recoil and muzzle rise to help increase the accuracy of hunters.  More accurate shooting in the field means fewer wounded and lost animals--a good thing for hunters and wildlife.
• Hearing protection is not necessary with suppressed gunfire, so hunters will be able to protect their long-term hearing.  Hunters often fail to use ear plugs or similar devices in many field applications, creating permanent hearing damage and tinnitus.

Recently, Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas adopted new rules allowing for use of suppressors when hunting game.  It’s time that hunters in Georgia are able to enjoy the same opportunities available to sportsmen in more than half of the country.  For more information on firearms and suppressors, click here.

SB 101 and SB 93 are critical to your Right to Keep and Bear Arms and hunting heritage in Georgia.  Contact your state Senator TODAY and urge him or her to support this NRA-backed legislation.  Click here to view contact information for your state Senator.