New Georgia gun law...

[case]

I know that there are several members here from Georgia and I'm sure several more that visit so I thought this might be of interest.

Last month Georgia's Governor signed into law SB308, which got rid of the hundred year old, rascist based Public Gathering law, which gave LEO leeway on deciding where firearm carry was and wasn't legal depending on opinion, the person carrying and the way the wind was blowing.

The most important points of the new law are:

-a set list of offlimits places.
-sporting events, concerts, parades, festivals, etc.. are now legal.
-you can now drink while carrying.
-you can now have a gun in your vehicle in the parking lot of offlimits places.
-you can have a firearm in your vehicle at a college.

There are others that I'm sure I've missed.

Here is the best site for additional information, as well as being the site of the organization responsible for restoring more firearms rights to Georgians than anyone else in the state's history http://www.georgiacarry.org/

[Pepe]

A step in the right direction.

[SAR Skipper]

Let's hear it for Ga (again)

First it was Kenesaw and the hand wringers whining about old west shoot outs and "blood in the streets."
Quite the opposite is true

One of these days, I'm gonna have to move up there!

[John E]

but is drinking while carrying really a victory?

I think I'd be downplaying that provision but that's just me.

[Hill, Bill E.]

but is drinking while carrying really a victory?

I think I'd be downplaying that provision but that's just me.

Yes and no.

It's a victory for our rights, but could be a can of worms.

Owning/carrying/using a firearm is a serious responsibility, and needs to be treated as such.

Just like drinking and driving, you can drink, then drive, but it's against the law if you are 'over the limit'. Comes down to common sense and personal responsibility.

In MN, they treat carrying a handgun the same as driving with a CDL, the BAC limit is 0.04%, instead of the 0.08% for DUI with a regular vehicle.

[case]

but is drinking while carrying really a victory?

I think I'd be downplaying that provision but that's just me.

While I'm not much of a drinker, there are plenty of adults who can both carry a weapon and have a drink or two responsibly. For those who can't, there are already laws that deal with that.
I, personally, have never understood the need to strip everyone of something just because some people abuse it. I saw a drunk guy attack another guy with a Hilift handle, do we need a specific law banning the use of those if one's had a drink?


And I see no reason to downplay the lifting of any restrictions on the right to defend one's self. That's the way carrying a weapon in this country went from normal to taboo. The gun went from being a tool that people carried daily to something "evil" that the government needed to protect us from.


And Offtopic (a little), but this week a Georgia Pastor, along with GeorgiaCarry.Org, filed suit against the state challenging Georgia's law prohibiting churches and other places of worship from deciding whether or not they allow members to carry.

[SunTzuNephew]

I agree. We don't strip everyone of their right to the religion of their choice because some religions have practices that the vast majority consider odd, dangerous or abhorrent. We don't strip everyone of their right to a jury trial because some people try and influence juries. We don't strip everyone of their right not to testify against themselves because some people are just guilty. These are all Constitutional protections against government insults to citizens.

We don't even prevent everyone from driving, or drinking, because some commit crimes while they do it - and these are NOT Constitutionally protected.

But lots of folks think that its perfectly OK to take away the Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear firearms, because some people misuse them. Even though there is NO evidence that such prohibitions have any result in reducing violent crime: If they did, Washington DC and Chicago/Cook County, Illinois would be the safest cities in the US.

If people have ANY civil rights, or human rights, it's the right to defend themselves against injury and attack. A government doesn't have the right to take away that human, civil right. The USSC has said that, twice now: And yet politicians think that their provably false ideas trump civil rights.

[captblack]

The most important points of the new law are:

-a set list of offlimits places.
-sporting events, concerts, parades, festivals, etc.. are now legal.
-you can now drink while carrying.
-you can now have a gun in your vehicle in the parking lot of offlimits places.
-you can have a firearm in your vehicle at a college.

I believe the new law allows you to enter a restaurant that makes over 60% sales of food but you still cannot drink while carrying.

Remember, we are an open carry state. The same license is required to OC or to conceal. I live in an area with hardly any crime of any type yet I carry (concealed) anytime I am not at work. It is not that I feel I need to protect myself but I have the right to protect myself, love ones and property. Don't forget DC - violent crime down 27% since the gun ban was lifted.

Remember, to ensure gun control, you must practice, practice, practice ...

[case]

I believe the new law allows you to enter a restaurant that makes over 60% sales of food but you still cannot drink while carrying.

Actually, HB89, which was signed into law two years ago, made that legal.
SB308, signed last month, legalizes carry into bars, as long as the owner gives permission and legalizes consumption of alcohol while carrying.

[captblack]

Actually, HB89, which was signed into law two years ago, made that legal.
SB308, signed last month, legalizes carry into bars, as long as the owner gives permission and legalizes consumption of alcohol while carrying.

I beg to differ ... This is from the section dealing with Public Places:

You may carry a firearm into a restaurant that serves alcohol (gross annual sales are made up of more than 50% from food, check their business license if you are not sure if they are a bar or restaurant) as long as you do not drink alcohol. (16-11-127)

This is from OCGA 16-11-127: f) A person licensed or permitted to carry a firearm by this part shall not consume alcoholic beverages in a restaurant or other eating establishment while carrying a firearm. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

I dont' see much wiggle room in this, do you?