Last Thursday at midnight, the 2013 legislative session adjourned without passing any pro-gun reforms, including NRA-backed Senate Bill 101. SB 101, as amended in its conference committee, would have been the most comprehensive piece of pro-gun legislation to have passed in Atlanta in recent history. SB 101 included the following changes that would have been of great benefit to gun owners all across Georgia:
- Enhanced the current reciprocity for out-of-state concealed carry permit holders traveling through Georgia and sets legal precedent for other states to follow suit.
- Removed fingerprinting for renewal of a Weapons Carry License (WCL).
- Prohibited the state from creating and maintaining a database of WCL holders.
- Protected the confidentiality and privacy of WCL holders.
- Lowered the age from 21 to 18 for activity duty military, with specific training, to obtain a WCL to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense.
- Allowed churches the option to opt-in and allow for their parishioners to carry concealed.
- Repealed the unnecessary and duplicative state-required license for a firearms dealer, ensuring that gun dealers are only required to have a Federal Firearms License (FFL).
- Preempted a ban on firearms in public housing, as the necessity of self-defense is paramount regardless of where one calls home.
- Allowed concealed carry on college campuses by those individuals with a valid of a WCL holder.
Despite overwhelming pro-gun majorities in both state legislative chambers and to the detriment of responsible Second Amendment supporters across the Peach State, SB 101 failed to pass in both the Senate and House due to unfortunate political posturing and disagreements among elected officials.
The NRA and its members are extremely disappointed that SB 101 failed to pass and be enacted into law this session. We will continue to work before the 2014 legislative session to bring all parties together so that gun owners and supporters of the Second Amendment are made a priority and get reforms that they deserve.
The NRA thanks the tens of thousands of members who called, wrote and showed up at the Capitol in Atlanta in support of SB 101 this year. However, your help is still needed. Please contact your elected officials and demand that they do a better job next year. Click here for help identifying your elected officials and their contact information.
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