Georgia Passes Ridiculous Gun Bill

[Slydessertfox]

Congratulations to Georgia on passing perhaps one of the most insane gun bills in the country, pending its signing from the governor. Things the law allows:

• Churches can now decide on whether guns should be allowed within their church or not
• Silencers are allowed while hunting on private and some public property
• Gun owners may be allowed to pack heat almost anywhere—including K-12 schools, bars, churches, government buildings, and airports.
• It expands stand your ground into an "absolute" defense for the use of deadly force in self-protection. "Defense of self or others," the bills reads "shall be an absolute defense to any violation under this part." In its current wording, the bill would even allow individuals who possess a gun illegally—convicted felons, for example—to still claim a Stand Your Ground defense.
• Dramatically roles back concealed carry restrictions
• Remove the fingerprinting requirement for gun license renewals
• Prohibit the state from keeping a gun license database
• Tighten the state's preemption statute, which restricts local governments from passing gun laws that conflict with state laws
• Repeal the state licensing requirement for firearms dealers (requiring only a federal firearms license)
• Expand gun owner rights in a declared state of emergency by prohibiting government authorities from seizing, registering, or otherwise limiting the carrying of guns in any way permitted by law before the emergency was declared
• Limit the governor's emergency powers by repealing the ability to regulate the sale of firearms during a declared state of emergency
• Lower the age to obtain a concealed-carry license from 21 to 18 for active-duty military and honorably discharged veterans who've completed basic training
• Prohibit detaining someone for the sole purpose of checking whether they have a gun license.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...A2K1MB20140321
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014...nd-your-ground
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-r...un-bill/nfHn6/
http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/geo...rsial-gun-bill


This bill is complete insanity. You don't have to be a gun control supporter to see the problem with allowing guns in airports and schools and preventing a state background database. This is taking gun rights to an insane level, which makes it unsurprising the NRA is giving this a grade of an A, which is never a good thing. What are your thoughts on this legislation?

[Simon Cashmere]

It's hard to track exactly what has been done because it's not one bill but many many bills passed to make a lot of changes. For carrying firearms on schools, the school administration can select a person to go through a training program to be armed at school. That's no big deal. Most of the anti-gun celebrities send their kids to private school with armed guards.

Of the measures you are talking about taking them at face value, none particularly worry me. If the Church wants to allow people to have guns on their property, that's fine. An off duty police officer stopped a massacre in progress at a Church in the US by killing the bad guy, Aurora Colorado. If no guns in church rule was applied, the police officer would have had to watch helplessly while the crazy gunned down all of the congregation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sKQl-Qp5W0

In a declared emergency, the government shouldn't be able to take your guns. They did that in Katrina when people needed their guns to stay safe.

If people want to shoot guns on their own property with a silencer or suppressor - big deal. The bill I saw only refers to private property. I'm not sure if you've heard rifle fire - but the sound made by AK variants or an SKS is absolutely mindblowing in intensity. Suppressor on that means you can take out coyotes or whatever and not disturb the neighbours. Sounds alright to me.

You've got a bee in your bonnet about guns, so don't own them. Don't touch them, don't watch violent movies. Don't attend any location with armed security guards. Boycott banks who guard the money with guns. Boycott celebrities who have armed bodyguards. Boycott Obama who is guarded by the secret service - guns just escalate violence, his entire security detail should be unarmed. Hell the army should be unarmed, too many people are in training accidents - give them super soakers for practice to prevent anyone being injured in training. The possibilities are endless.

Part of being free means having the means to defend yourself and your family, and you should be able to have a firearm to do that. My real problem with the anti-firearm people especially celebrities is that they are such hypocrites. They have armed guards, and then tell regular people 'no guns for you.' So they ensure their own safety with guns while saying that the little people cannot have firearms to defend their own.

Looked at the bill, and it said for suppressors on lands designated by the Department. I suppose that would be (but don't know) usual hunting locations on land owned by the State of Georgia.

(9) The use of silencers or suppressorsfor hunting within this state is prohibited;

provided, however, that a silencer or suppressor may be used for hunting on the private

property of the person using suchsilencer or suppressor, on private property for which

the owner of such property has provided verifiable permission to the person using such

silencer or suppressor, and on public lands in areas designated by the department

[Will Gladiate For Food]

By what I read, there are things I agree with. Allowing citizens to carry on private property (Churches or Bars) by consent of the owner; I don't know what the problem is there. That's the owner's consent, and I assume the owner of a bar for example is only going to favor by carrying himself and not his clients. Georgia is doing this on a state level, and technically they can legislate and regulate weapons as they see fit. I don't reside in Georgia, so it's up to them. Federal suppression (Where it is referred to limit government emergency powers) is fine since there is no authority that is derived for federal power to exist concerning weapons or for them to disarm in states yet federal licenses are still applicable. It also helps suppress an administration or president to pass such an executive order calling for disarmament. Schools are fine to set their own policies on carrying weapons in the premise. If they do not permit them at all then thats up to them as well. I think it's fine for them to decide. Also a school permitting weapons on the premise is almost obvious that the gun carrier is professionally trained. There are some things that legislation got right. According to some of the comments on those sites, there's bias and over exaggerated remarks concerning the bill so I can't really be sincere by what the websites say, unless I read the bill itself. I actually will later, I don't want a cookie cutter analysis of the bill; If it's just a bill reinforcing rights' already set in place (Which your post pretty much proves that) to an american citizen then I don't see a problem. It ultimately comes down to choice, and that's the ultimate goal; allowing people to choose. Some people can't afford monthly alarm bills, or house dogs. Thanks for sharing!

[Denny Crane!]

Congratulations to Georgia on passing perhaps one of the most insane gun bills in the country, pending its signing from the governor. Things the law allows:

[*]Churches can now decide on whether guns should be allowed within their church or not

So? If Georgia has a carry and conceal law and I assume by this they do why on earth should private institutions not be allowed to decide who is allowed guns in their residences.

[*]Silencers are allowed while hunting on private and some public property

Again, so?

[*]Gun owners may be allowed to pack heat almost anywhere—including K-12 schools, bars, churches, government buildings, and airports.

So? Mass shootings 1982-2012 49 of those shootings were with guns obtained illegally and only 12 legally. Perhaps if more people had carry and conceal it would become less appealing or alternatively at least people would have been able to defend themselves.

[*]It expands stand your ground into an "absolute" defense for the use of deadly force in self-protection. "Defense of self or others," the bills reads "shall be an absolute defense to any violation under this part." In its current wording, the bill would even allow individuals who possess a gun illegally—convicted felons, for example—to still claim a Stand Your Ground defense.

I'd like to read more about this. The burden of proof should be high but I agree with the principle.

[*]Dramatically roles back concealed carry restrictions

Thank goodness.

[*]Remove the fingerprinting requirement for gun license renewals

With DNA these days who cares.

[*]Prohibit the state from keeping a gun license database

Seems stupid.

[*]Tighten the state's preemption statute, which restricts local governments from passing gun laws that conflict with state laws

Kinda feel like gun control should be a federal thing anyway.

[*]Repeal the state licensing requirement for firearms dealers (requiring only a federal firearms license)

See above. Multiple layers of rules on something this serious is the retarded thing.

[*]Expand gun owner rights in a declared state of emergency by prohibiting government authorities from seizing, registering, or otherwise limiting the carrying of guns in any way permitted by law before the emergency was declared[*]Limit the governor's emergency powers by repealing the ability to regulate the sale of firearms during a declared state of emergency

Again so?

[*]Lower the age to obtain a concealed-carry license from 21 to 18 for active-duty military and honorably discharged veterans who've completed basic training

So?

[*]Prohibit detaining someone for the sole purpose of checking whether they have a gun license.

Damn right.

This bill is complete insanity. You don't have to be a gun control supporter to see the problem with allowing guns in airports and schools and preventing a state background database. This is taking gun rights to an insane level, which makes it unsurprising the NRA is giving this a grade of an A, which is never a good thing. What are your thoughts on this legislation?

Really don't get your problems with it. There are some questionable moves but it certainly doesn't seem insane.

[Denny Crane!]

Congratulations to Georgia on passing perhaps one of the most insane gun bills in the country, pending its signing from the governor. Things the law allows:

• Churches can now decide on whether guns should be allowed within their church or not

• So? If Georgia has a carry and conceal law and I assume by this they do why on earth should private institutions not be allowed to decide who is allowed guns in their residences.
  
  

• Silencers are allowed while hunting on private and some public property

[Phier]

Georgia Passes RidiculousOutstanding Gun Bill

Seems pretty awesome to me. Even the Peoples Republic of Illinois, a state being destroyed by the Democrats financially has passed a concealed carry law.

[Denny Crane!]

Phier what is your opinion on the self protection bit of the bill? I am a little uncertain about the burden of proof aspect.

[Phier]

Phier what is your opinion on the self protection bit of the bill? I am a little uncertain about the burden of proof aspect.

It expands stand your ground into an "absolute" defense for the use of deadly force in self-protection. "Defense of self or others," the bills reads "shall be an absolute defense to any violation under this part." In its current wording, the bill would even allow individuals who possess a gun illegally—convicted felons, for example—to still claim a Stand Your Ground defense.

I don't have much without more exact information. Florida's stand your ground law gets mocked by the left all the time in ways it doesn't actually apply. The left wants convicted felons to vote after all so I don't know why they wouldn't want them to defend themselves Ok that was mean, but back to seriousness, stand your ground laws are always going to be a doubled edged sword when there is lack of physical evidence or witnesses.

On thing in that oh so famous Florida case, was the White Hispanic in question had wounds on the back of his head consistent with his story of being attacked.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

• Silencers are allowed while hunting on private and some public property

Wow, you're right, it is ing insane.

• Lower the age to obtain a concealed-carry license from 21 to 18 for active-duty military and honorably discharged veterans who've completed basic training

Which doesn't make sense since you can't even join until you're 18, maybe 17 with parents consent, but even then you're not going to be a veteran until your 20's.

This bill is complete insanity. You don't have to be a gun control supporter to see the problem with allowing guns in airports and schools and preventing a state background database. This is taking gun rights to an insane level, which makes it unsurprising the NRA is giving this a grade of an A, which is never a good thing. What are your thoughts on this legislation?

I think it's stupid. Guns have become somewhat of a religion in this country, and the 2nd Amendment is being taken to extreme levels. I don't think guns should be banned, but not having a database on who owns a gun? Not being properly processed and going through the right channels to prevent a lunatic getting their hands on one? Allowing people to just carry guns, to use silencers? Who the hell needs a silencer?

The real reason behind all this gun love is just a hankering idea for armed revolution that will hopefully never happen in this country. For some reason this patriotic rednecks don't have faith enough in our soldiers to not brutally gun down the masses, as if once you become a soldier you stop being a person. How dramatic.

[Denny Crane!]

Saying something is bad is really different from actually saying why it is bad.

I'm trying to figure out what the panic is all about. Gun checks are logical, rigorous checks are logical. Other than that I really don't see it.

[Heathen Hammer]

This bill is complete insanity. You don't have to be a gun control supporter to see the problem with allowing guns in airports and schools and preventing a state background database. This is taking gun rights to an insane level, which makes it unsurprising the NRA is giving this a grade of an A, which is never a good thing. What are your thoughts on this legislation?

What's the problem with allowing guns in schools and airports, if all the safety regulations are taken into account?

[Euphoric]

Nice. Maybe they are taking heed of what's been going on in Kennesaw, Georgia:

http://library.municode.com/HTML/128...S34-21HEHOMAFI

And look at the crime statistics! It's hard for people on the gun control side of the debate to explain statistics like this away:

http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime...w-Georgia.html

It has the lowest instance of crime in the entire state (probably one of the lowest in the nation). What's more, violent crime is near zero. Looks like all the murderers are heading down to left-leaning Atlanta:

http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime...a-Georgia.html

[IZob]

Nice. Maybe they are taking heed of what's been going on in Kennesaw, Georgia:

http://library.municode.com/HTML/128...S34-21HEHOMAFI

And look at the crime statistics! It's hard for people on the gun control side of the debate to explain statistics like this away:

http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime...w-Georgia.html

It has the lowest instance of crime in the entire state (probably one of the lowest in the nation). What's more, violent crime is near zero. Looks like all the murderers are heading down to left-leaning Atlanta:

http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime...a-Georgia.html

You cannot presume that having more guns means safer lives, when states like South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri all with more guns then Georgia, also have much more gun related deaths.

[Simon Cashmere]

Most of the gun related deaths are either police killing crims, crims killing each other, crims killing civies. Very rare legal gun owners killing regular civvies.

[Toho]

why is it that US is the only country that has problems with guns?
it seems one side wants to make the US look like a western movie but with assault rifles while the other side wants to make US behave like other countries in Europe or Canada.
I vote for the latter than the former, if you give people more guns then the chances they will use them increases and it takes 1 shot for everyone in certain radius to draw their own guns and shoot at the guy that seems hostile. it just sounds like a terrible idea.

Most of the gun related deaths are either police killing crims, crims killing each other, crims killing civies. Very rare legal gun owners killing regular civvies.

so legal gun owners are rarely criminals?

[Simon Cashmere]

so legal gun owners are rarely criminals?

Yep.

The vast majority of people killed by guns are not killed by George Zimmerman. Or in some massacre. But by crims in the thousands every weekend, who have no legal right to own a firearm as they are convicted felons. Crims on crims, cops on crims, crims on civvies, occassionally crims on cops. Regular joe blow civvie who has a clean rap sheet and lawfully owns a firearm, going postal is some infintessimally small amount of the total firearms death. People who are legally able to own a firearm, very very rarely unlawfully discharge a firearm and kill others.

So the problem is not the gun laws, its that criminals not surprisingly, don't give a flying eff about the gunlaws.

[Toho]

Yep.

The vast majority of people killed by guns are not killed by George Zimmerman. Or in some massacre. But by crims in the thousands every weekend, who have no legal right to own a firearm as they are convicted felons. Crims on crims, cops on crims, crims on civvies, occassionally crims on cops. Regular joe blow civvie who has a clean rap sheet and lawfully owns a firearm, going postal is some infintessimally small amount of the total firearms death. People who are legally able to own a firearm, very very rarely unlawfully discharge a firearm and kill others.

So the problem is not the gun laws, its that criminals not surprisingly, don't give a flying eff about the gunlaws.

do you have a stat to back this up?
also how are we counting this legal issue and their past criminal activity?
not every robber has a history of robbery before resorting to gun violence. I also hope that they are not counting him ineligible AFTER he has been convicted of the crime because that would be stupid.
also part of the problem is that it is far too easy to sale guns to whoever you want.

from what i hear the democrats want to put some kind of database on who owns what, buys what and sells what.
this should make it more difficult to just sell guns to random strangers who then sell it criminals (as you say).
also why the would anyone need an assault rifle to protect themselves? a hand gun should be more than enough.

[mishkin]

So the problem is not the gun laws, its that criminals not surprisingly, don't give a flying eff about the gunlaws.

The problem may also be the vast amount of weapons circulating in the united states, making it easy for criminals to get them. The common european criminal walk in the street with a knife, not a uzzi.

[Simon Cashmere]

The problem may also be the vast amount of weapons circulating in the united states, making it easy for criminals to get them. The common european criminal walk in the street with a knife, not a uzzi.

We have some of the toughest gun laws in the supposed free world. And our criminals also have guns. Go down to the courts on any day, and watch charges of people being found with Ak-47s or other military weaponry. Ak47s have never been legal here.

Weapons in the EU are not hard to get either, there is just a mindset about not using them. There is unfortunately the gangster culture in the US where its cool for people, usually black people, to shoot each other up. The EU doesn't have that same culture, remember the Yugo wars meant there were loads of weapons nearby if people wanted them. Its a cultural failing. And banning guns doesn't get rid of guns for criminals. Just like banning drugs didn't.

The main reason for gun violence in the US is urban decay, the decay of the family, and the decay of neighbourhoods and the spirit of being neighbours, decay of community. People don't want to be friends or neighbours anymore, just scared people hiding inside their home - in some locations. Despite the tv view, most of the US is just boring suburbia. In certain locations, gun deaths are common. But again, they are usually, criminals with guns and not lawfully owned firearms being misused.

I don't really see how that's enough to justify a silencer.

I knew a professional shooter who hunted with an SKS that was suppressed because the SKS without a suppressor was damaging his hearing. Hearing damage is a big reason to use silencers or suppressors, because you can't wear earmuffs while hunting pigs, otherwise the pig will be on you tearing you to pieces because you can't hear them coming.

[Sir Adrian]

I will never ever ever understand America's obsession with guns. It already is the country with the highest number of inmates and highest percentage of violent crimes. Now all that's lacking is priests packing uzis at Sunday mass and children with Desert Eagles in schools.