Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has officially signed two bills into law that remove the license and background check requirements for gun owners, which now allows for the freedom of carrying a firearm in public.
Senate Bill 319 (SB 319) has now become the new official statewide bill that permits residents to carry their firearms in public without the requirement of a license or background check. House Bill 218 (HB 218) is an additional bill that recognizes licensed gun owners from outside states and thus, will also allow them access to freely carry firearms while in the state of Georgia.
“SB 319 makes sure that law-abiding Georgians — law-abiding Georgians, including our daughters and your family too — can protect themselves without having the permission of the state government. The Constitution of the United States gives us that right, not the government,” Kemp said. “HB 218 ensures that individuals who are licensed to carry in another state are also authorized to do so here in Georgia.”
SB 319, which has been labelled the “Constitutional Carry Act,” was approved and cleared by both state legislature chambers at the beginning of April. These two bills have gathered a great deal of praise and approval from those who support Second Amendment rights.
“This isn’t a bill that’s going to create more crime. This is allowing law-abiding citizens to carry a weapon without a license in Georgia,” Senator Jason Anavitarte told Fox 5 in Atlanta.
That being said, however, there have also been some critics who feel that the new bills will actually lead to further increase in crime rates within the state.
“This legislation will potentially allow individuals with a criminal history who purchase a gun through a private sale to legally carry a hidden, loaded weapon in our communities,” said Rep. Kimberly Alexander.
Georgia now joins a group of states that have since legally approved a constitutional carry of firearms for their citizens.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has already signed Senate Bill 215, which legally permits state residents over the age of 21 to carry firearms without a permit.
The other states in question that now allow for permit-less carry gun laws include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
