Georgia: Multiple Firearm-Related Bills to be Considered in Committee Next Week

On Monday, February 20, the Georgia House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee is scheduled to hear multiple important pro-gun bills:

First, House Bill 292, sponsored by state Representative Rick Jasperse (R-11), makes several positive and important changes to Georgia gun laws including:

• Providing licensees of states with reciprocal agreements with Georgia a 90 day grace period to obtain a GWL while continuing to carry legally using their previous states’ license
• Prohibiting a probate judge from suspending, extending, delaying, or avoiding the process of approving a GWL application
• Protecting any firearms instructor who lawfully instructs, educates, or trains a person in the safe, proper, or technical use of a firearm from civil liability for any injuries caused by the failure of such person to use such firearm properly or lawfully
• Make a code change regarding permit reciprocity, specifically with the state of Virginia.

Second, House Bill 406, sponsored by state Representative Alan Powell (R-32) will also be heard.  HB 406 seeks to amend certain issues with current reciprocity laws in Georgia.  This would allow Virginia concealed handgun permit holders to enjoy permit reciprocity with Georgia.

Third, House Bill 280, sponsored by state Representative Mandi Ballinger (R-23), seeks to amend restrictions in state law that prohibit law-abiding Georgia Weapons License (GWL) holders from being able to protect themselves on college and university campuses.  HB 280 would allow law-abiding GWL holders to carry when he or she is in or on certain buildings or real property owned by or leased to any public technical school, vocational school, college, university, or other institution of postsecondary education. 

It is important that you contact members of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee and urge them to SUPPORT HB 292, HB 406, and HB 280, and to OPPOSE House Bill 232.

Last, House Bill 232 will also be heard on Monday.  Sponsored by state Representative Pedro Marin (D-96), HB 232 would change Georgia’s current carry laws to require first-time applicants to take basic firearm training in order to obtain a weapons carry license.  While the National Rifle Association is the foremost firearms training organization in the United States, government mandated training should not be a requirement to exercise a constitutional right. 

House Bill 232 would require most gun license applicants to first complete a training course.  However, it would not require the applicant to actually fire a firearm.  HB 232 does not provide specifically where the training would come from, nor does it provide a guide on potential costs associated with this training.  All that HB 232 provides is that the instructor must be a law enforcement officer, nationally recognized organization that promotes gun safety or a licensed firearms dealer.  HB 232 is another added burden of cost and time for a person who may be in a dire self-defense situation and would like to exercise their constitutional right to carry a firearm for self-defense.

Please contact members of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee and urge them to SUPPORT HB 292, HB 406, and HB 280, and to OPPOSE House Bill 232.  Your NRA-ILA will keep you updated on the status of House Bill 292, House Bill 406, and House Bill 232.  Please continue to check www.NRAILA.org and your email inbox for alerts on the latest action items.