Gun owners in Georgia could soon be allowed to have their firearms on them in more public areas if lawmakers pass one of several bills currently within the state House of Representatives.
House Bill 28, dubbed the “Restoring Private Property Rights for Places of Worship Act of 2013,” would take out the state’s restriction against carrying a weapon into a church or place of worship.
House Bill 29, known as the “Georgia Campus Carry Act of 2013,” would lift the restriction against carrying a firearm onto a “campus of any public or private technical school, vocational school, college, university, or institution of postsecondary education.”
Charles Gregory, R-Kennesaw, is the primary sponsor of both bills. Gregory went on the record to say that while both were filed days after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, he began work on them before the mass shooting occurred.
Legislators who have signed on as co-sponsors of Gregory's two bills include Ed Setzler, R-Acworth, and Paulette Braddock, R-Powder Springs.
Another bill that has been dubbed the “Restoring Private Property Rights for Places of Worship Act of 2013,” House Bill 335, contains language similar to HB 29.
Copies of all three bills are attached to this article in PDF form.
Should guns be allowed in churches? What about college campuses? Should they be banned from both?
Share what’s on your mind with us, and then return here to see what your neighbors in Paulding, Douglas and Cobb have said.
“When we can come together, when we cooperate, when we put aside petty differences, the results are astounding.” (a quote from that piece)
I invite you to come to the table....we have many gun owners who are joining the movement for greater gun controls...we have been to Glock HQ here in Smyrna and the CEO has invited us to meet with him to discuss how they can support our efforts....yesterday we met with all Cobb Police chiefs to discuss the same....most of the activists in our coalition are gun owners. Not one feels the status quo is acceptable and all want to see some gun control measures adopted. I invite you to come to the table...write me to get on the email list to be invited to the forums and meetings...pilgrim1@mindspring.com
You really like to besmirch America! If you honestly believe America is the most violent society in the developed world, then you've never been anywhere. Take one trip down to our southern boarder to find the first example of where you are absolutely besmirching the wrong people. Mexico isn't the only developed country with violence or high rates of crime but it is the one that has that violence spilling over into our country. There are many good Mexicans who are standing up to the drug cartels, but they need guns to protect themselves not your head buried into some unknown talking points memo. Please stop the lies and unjust character assassinations of one of the freest countries for rich and poor alike.
"Extreme opinions on all sides...quote this or that study or historical precedent...will get us nowhere." If you think the debate here is extreme, then what would a normal discussion look like? Your views are not extreme to many Europeans who believe in less guns and more government, however those are Europeans and not Americans. We charted a different course from England a long time ago and have grown into a great nation with great liberties for all citizens which made Europeans rather jealous of us throughout the years. Since you lump historical precedent and educational studies as examples of getting us nowhere, I don't see how you could possibly moderate an honest debate or discussion. What could you possible build on but more lies about the Constitution that are not backed by any evidence of historical documentation and easily refuted with a plethora of resources. It is a dangerous game for someone to play with someone like yourself who corrupts the facts and outright obfuscates historical precedent.
And guns with college students and drinking is just plain STUPID! Also, I don't think that when these people are looking for a place for mass murder, they are asking themselves if this is a gun free zone, since they plan to die anyway... more likely, where can I hit the most people??? Thank you, but I am keeping my gun at home where I can use it if needed, and let the police do their job elsewhere.
.Everything about it is organic and open to change and interpretation---otherwise we would not have judicial review and so many layers. Name calling and labeling gets us nowhere. No one knows all the truth about this issue or any issue---democracy entails people coming together to try to arrive at workable solutions to all problems. You make a lot of good points which I have already learned from and you seem to be very reasonable in your use and care of guns. That gives me hope that there are others like you. But if you are not willing to come to the table and contribute your wisdom and experience, and also allow that others whose opinions and experiences vary widely from yours also have credibility then we all fall short--and so does America.
The document is not static nor perfect. The 3/5th Compromise, Prohibition and other items are proof of that. However, changing an enumerated right is something that should not be undertaken lightly. When our elected officials can prove to us that they can act responsibly enough to create a federal budget that actually works and does not have to be revisited every few months, then we can start looking at having those same officials be able to change the Constitution. Until that happens the elected officials need to keep to what they do best; providing the bread and circuses that the US electorate seems to enjoy while the country burns. Because that is exactly what is going on right now.
Our elected officials - from either party - cannot do anything well other than instill distrust of each other. The federal debt in this country is out of control and the politicians keep acting like it does not matter. Republicans play to their extremists as do the Democrats. Compromise on anything meaningful is non-existent. People get worked up about what the First Lady is wearing, how tan the Speaker is and where the President goes on vacation and who he play golf with. It is in this environment that you want to start to change the Constitution? Because you think that the people have the power? Everyday people have no real power over the 1%ers (in and out of the government) that run this country. Our opinions are served to us via Fox News and MSNBC. Critical thinking is something that nearly no American practices. Entertainment is the only thing that matters to most Americans. Generally it takes a truly stupid politician to lose a re-election campaign. We rarely "throw the rascals out". We are getting the government we deserve - because we the people keep putting these incompetent people in office. Changing one of our founding documents in our current political environment is beyond ridiculous. The next time the right that is on the chopping block might be one that is near and dear to the progressives in this country. Look out.
No one that I know is seeking or suggesting to change any founding documents at this time--we simply get newer or deeper interpretations and applications of them as we progress and realize that our past interpretations and applications were not adequate. Yes, sometimes holding on the past and having to change is painful, and sometimes we make mistakes and have to go back to the old way, which we can always do, but it is a sign of intelligence, creativity and critical thinking to try new things to solve our new or growing problems.