NRA Statement on Veto of Georgia Campus Safety Bill

Fairfax, Va.— The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action issued the following statement today in reaction to Governor Nathan Deal’s veto of House Bill 859, a campus safety bill that would have allowed law-abiding citizens to exercise their constitutional right to self-defense on Georgia’s public college and university campuses.

“We agreed with Governor Deal when he said that the arguments against the campus safety bill lacked validity. He was right then, but he is wrong today,” said NRA spokeswoman Catherine Mortensen. “It is unfortunate that Governor Deal vetoed a bill that would have made Georgia campuses safer for his constituents. The NRA is thankful to Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and the legislators who worked to protect law-abiding citizens’ constitutional right to self-defense on campus and we look forward to working with them next session to pass this important safety legislation.”

Legislators instrumental in passing the campus safety legislation include Representatives Rick Jasperse, Mandi Ballinger, Alan Powell, John Meadows, David Ralston and Senator Jesse Stone.

Governor Deal’s February 29, 2016 comments regarding the arguments against the bill he vetoed today: “We heard all the hype that we’re now hearing about campus carry, all the predictions of tragedies. All the predictions that we were going to open our state up to a Wild West scenario. Those earlier fears don’t appear to have come true. So, therefore, to use those kind of arguments with the campus carry discussion, I think lacks validity.” Governor Nathan Deal, Atlanta Journal Constitution

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at NRA on Facebook and Twitter @NRA.