Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN Legal & Legislation

Georgia: Historic Victory for the Second Amendment

Friday, March 21, 2014

Shortly before midnight last night, within the last hour before adjournment of the 2014 legislative session, House Bill 60 was agreed to in the state House of Representatives by a 112-58 vote and sent to Governor Nathan Deal (R) for his expected signature into law.

As previously reported, HB 60, as amended, had multiple transformations throughout this year’s session, and at one point was in real trouble of being watered down beyond repair.  Thankfully, your activism through repeated phone calls, e-mails and visits to the Capitol carried the day.  Your gun rights were not only preserved this year, but were restored and advanced further than they ever have in the history of the Peach State.  This truly is an historic day for Georgia gun owners, shooters and sportsmen.

Upon the Governor’s signature, HB 60 will enact the following pro-gun reforms for all law-abiding gun owners in Georgia:

  • Remove fingerprinting for renewal of Weapons Carry Licenses (WCL).
  • Prohibit the state from creating and maintaining a database of WCL holders.
  • Create an absolute defense for the legal use of deadly force in the face of a violent attack.
  • Lower the age to obtain a concealed WCL for self-defense from 21 to 18 for active duty military, with specific training.
  • Allows for the use of firearm sound suppressors while hunting.
  • Repeal the unnecessary and duplicative state-required license for a firearms dealer, instead requiring only a Federal Firearms License (FFL).
  • Prohibit a ban on firearms in public housing, ensuring that the right to self-defense should not be infringed based on where one calls home.
  • Codify the ability to legally carry, with a WCL, in sterile/non-secure areas of airports.
  • Require reporting those persons who have been involuntarily hospitalized or have been adjudicated mentally deficient to the NICS system while also providing the ability for relief through an application process to the court system allowing for restoration of gun rights.
  • State that under a declared state of emergency, all law-abiding gun owners will not have their Second Amendment rights restricted or infringed by executive authority through Emergency Powers protection.
  • Strengthen current firearms preemption statutes through further clarification of the regulatory authority of local governments, excluding firearm discharge ordinances.
  • Remove the sweeping restrictions on legally carrying a firearm with a WCL in bars, leaving this decision to private property owners.
  • Allowing for churches to opt-in for legal carry with only a civil penalty of a $100 if a person happens to carry into a prohibited church unknowingly.

This resounding victory must first and foremost be credited to our members, who tirelessly worked to ensure that passage of this bill was possible.  We also thank the following state lawmakers who went above and beyond this year and were critical in seeing this bill through to the end.  The NRA’s gratitude cannot be conveyed enough to the below state legislators for their unwavering support:

- House Speaker David Ralston (R-7)
- Representative Rick Jasperse (R-11), original bill sponsor
- Representative Alan Powell (R-32)
- Representative John Meadows (R-5)
- Representative Jay Roberts (R-155)
- Representative Mandi Ballinger (R-23)
- Representative Dusty Hightower (R-68)
- Representative Stephen Allison (R-8)
- President Pro Tem David Shafer (R-48)
- Senator Bill Heath (R-31), original bill sponsor
- Senator Tyler Harper (R-7)
- Senator Butch Miller (R-49)
- Senator Jeff Mullis (R-53)
- Senator Ross Tolleson (R-20)
- Senator Mike Dugan (R-30)
- Senator Jack Murphy (R-27)
- Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle

These elected men and women were critical to the passage of this important and significant pro-gun legislative package, not only with their votes but also with their outspoken support and actions throughout the entire 2014 session.  Your NRA would also like to thank the pro-gun group, Georgia Carry, for working alongside us to get this bill passed and sent to Governor Deal for his signature.

While we fully expect Governor Deal to sign HB 60 into law, please contact the Governor and politely ask that HB 60 receive his signature in the coming days.  Governor Deal can be reached at (404) 656-1776 and by e-mail here.

Please stay tuned to your e-mail inbox and www.nraila.org for further updates.

TRENDING NOW
Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

News  

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Biden’s Executive Order Targeting Gun Ownership

On Tuesday, Joe Biden issued an executive order on gun control that could accurately be described as a mile wide and an inch deep.

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

News  

Monday, March 20, 2023

Columnist thinks gun owners can be shamed out of their rights

At least one of the joyless scolds that predominate in gun control circles thinks they’ve stumbled onto a novel anti-gun tactic. According to Colorado Newsline Editor Quentin Young, gun control supporters should try to shame gun ...

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

News  

Monday, January 30, 2023

Updates to ATF Final Rule on Stabilizing Braces

On Monday, January 30, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) published the final Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached “Stabilizing Braces” rule for public inspection in the federal register.

U.S. Taxpayers Funding “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders

News  

Monday, March 20, 2023

U.S. Taxpayers Funding “Red Flag” Gun Confiscation Orders

Texans are paying for so-called “Red Flag” gun confiscation orders in New York. North Carolinians are bankrolling Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPOs) in New Jersey. Louisianans are footing the bill for gun confiscation orders in Maryland.

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

Friday, March 17, 2023

Washington: Senate Committee Hearing California-Style Gun Ban & Waiting Period Bills

On March 23rd, at 8:00AM, the Senate Committee on Law & Justice will hear House Bill 1240, a comprehensive gun ban bill, and House Bill 1143, to impose a waiting period and training mandate for acquiring ...

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Florida: Senate’s Constitutional Carry Passes Committee

Today, the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee voted 11-6 to approve Senate Bill 150, constitutional carry, with an amendment aligning the language with the House’s version. It will now go to the full Senate for further consideration.

The New Mexico Legislature Finishes Its 2023 Regular Session

Sunday, March 19, 2023

The New Mexico Legislature Finishes Its 2023 Regular Session

The New Mexico Legislature wrapped up at noon on Saturday, March 18.  Below is a list of gun control bills which passed and extreme anti-gun legislation which NRA-ILA worked to defeat with pro-Second Amendment lawmakers, members of the firearms ...

Michigan: Senate Passes Gun Control Schemes

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Michigan: Senate Passes Gun Control Schemes

Today, the Senate passed anti-gun bill packages to criminalize private transfers, require firearms be made unavailable for self-defense, and allow Second Amendment rights to be suspended without due process. They will now move to the House for further ...

Washington: Updates on Anti-Gun Bills

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Washington: Updates on Anti-Gun Bills

Three major anti-gun bills still remain active in the Legislature, while others are likely defeated for the session. The NRA provided testimony and strong, united opposition to these bills throughout the legislative process thus far.

Florida: House Judiciary Passes Constitutional Carry

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Florida: House Judiciary Passes Constitutional Carry

Today, the House Judiciary Committee voted 17-6 to advance House Bill 543, the constitutional carry bill. It will now go to the House floor for debate.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.