{"id":21214,"date":"2014-07-01T16:00:23","date_gmt":"2014-07-01T20:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=21214"},"modified":"2014-07-01T16:00:23","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T17:19:57","slug":"new-pro-carry-georgia-law-takes-effect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/new-pro-carry-georgia-law-takes-effect\/","title":{"rendered":"New Pro-Carry Georgia Law Takes Effect"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Gov.<\/a>

Gov. Deal signs House Bill 60 into law, otherwise known as the Safe Carry Protection Act. (Photo: Associated Press<\/em>)<\/p><\/div>\n

On Tuesday Georgia’s sweeping pro-carry law took effect, causing gun-rights organizations to celebrate and gun-control groups to cringe.<\/p>\n

House Bill 60 otherwise known as the \u201cSafe Carry Protection Act”<\/a> is now law, which means concealed carry permit holders can tote firearms into bars, schools, colleges and churches provided the purveyors of the establishments give them the green light.<\/p>\n

To put it another way, the new law essentially puts the question to proprietors, administrators and clergymen on whether they want their place to be gun-free or gun friendly. Those who want to be gun-free can simply post a “No guns allowed” sign to prohibit carry on the premises while those who value the right of self defense can allow patrons, students, staff and members to carry.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the law allows CCW permit holders to into unsecured government buildings and airports, and erases penalties for law-abiding citizens who accidentally bring guns through TSA security checkpoints.<\/p>\n

While the bill was greeted with skepticism in the national media, some outlets dubbed in the “guns everywhere bill,<\/a>” fretting that it was too extreme, lawmakers in the state House and Senate overwhelming supported the measure.<\/p>\n

Likewise, Gov. Nathan Deal enthusiastically endorsed the measure when he signed it into law this past April.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor decades now I have staunchly defended our Second Amendment rights as both a legislator and as governor,\u201d said Deal, at a press conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis legislation will protect the constitutional rights of Georgians who have gone through a background check to legally obtain a Georgia Weapons Carry License,\u201d he added. \u201cThis law gives added protections to those who have played by the rules \u2013 and who can protect themselves and others from those who don\u2019t play by the rules.”<\/p>\n

The National Rifle Association, which help paved the way for the bill’s passage, trumpeted the rollout as a victory for gun owners.<\/p>\n

“This new law is an unequivocal expansion of Georgians’ Second Amendment Rights and Freedoms,” said NRA spokeswoman Catherine Mortensen in an email to Guns America.<\/p>\n

“Law abiding gun owners are now protected from the state creating or maintaining a data base of Weapons Carry License (WCL) holders,” she continued. “Responsible gun owners now have an absolute defense for the legal use of deadly force in the face of a violent attack.”<\/p>\n

\"Catherine<\/a>

Catherine Mortensen, media liaison for the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action. (Photo: NRA<\/em>)<\/p><\/div>\n

“Furthermore, the right to self-defense will now be protected for all Georgians, whether they live in a gated community or in public housing,” said Mortensen, concluding that “The NRA will continue to work with law-abiding gun owners and like-minded citizens everywhere to expand freedom and the right to self-defense.”<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Everytown for Gun Safety, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s pro-gun control organization, vowed not to go quietly into that good night, promising to use its grassroots advocacy to encourage Georgia restaurants, schools and churches to go the gun-free route.<\/p>\n

“While the gun lobby may have won the legislative battle, Georgia businesses, schools, places of worship, and other community organizations can fight back by prohibiting guns on their properties, and the members of the Georgia chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America are on a mission to ensure they know this,” said Piyali Cole, Georgia Chapter Leader Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, in an email to Guns America.<\/p>\n

“All summer, we will be canvassing our communities and educating bar and restaurants that serve alcohol about their rights, and provide them with the necessary signage to prohibit guns in their establishments,” said Cole.<\/p>\n

“That legislative battle was lost but the war is far from over,” she continued. “If our elected officials will not ensure the safety of our children and families in public places, moms will. We welcome all the citizens of Georgia\u2014moms, dads, grandparents and supporters\u2014to join us in this effort.”<\/p>\n

To recap, and as the NRA-ILA observed<\/a>, the Safe Carry Protection Act expanded gun rights in the following ways:<\/p>\n