Jonah Patel
On April 12, 2022, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp fulfilled a 2018 campaign promise by signing the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) into law, allowing Georgians to carry concealed handguns in public without a license or background check. The bill, which passed the state Senate 34-22, was championed by gun rights advocates as a restoration of the constitutional right to bear arms without government infringement. However, opponents criticized the removal of the background check requirement, arguing that it could lead to increased shooting deaths. Governor Kemp, joined by his family and other supporters, framed the legislation as a public safety measure, citing concerns about rising violent crime and asserting the right to self-defense.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the bill | Georgia Constitutional Carry Act |
| Bill Number | SB 319 |
| Other bill number | HB 218 |
| Date signed | 12 April 2022 |
| Signed by | Governor Brian P. Kemp |
| Location | Gable's Sporting Goods, Douglasville, Georgia |
| Attendees | First Lady Marty Kemp, two of his daughters, state constitutional officers, legislators, other special guests, Second Amendment enthusiasts |
| Gun law before the bill | Gun owners had to file an application for a weapons carry license |
| Gun law after the bill | Georgians can carry a concealed handgun in public without a license or background check |
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What You'll Learn
- Brian Kemp signs the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act into law
- Kemp signs bill allowing permitless carry of a concealed handgun in public
- Kemp signs bill allowing people to carry handguns without a license in Georgia
- Georgia Gun Owners pressure Brian Kemp to sign Constitutional Carry
- Kemp signs SB 319, Georgia's Constitutional Carry bill
Brian Kemp signs the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act into law
On April 12, 2022, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp fulfilled a 2018 campaign promise by signing the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) into law. The bill allows Georgia residents to carry handguns in public without a license or background check. It also includes a license reciprocity measure (HB 218), which authorizes individuals licensed to carry a weapon in another state to do the same in Georgia.
Governor Kemp was joined by First Lady Marty Kemp, two of his daughters, state constitutional officers, legislators, and other special guests at the bill signing ceremony. The event took place in front of a crowd of Second Amendment enthusiasts gathered outside Gable's Sporting Goods in Douglasville.
Kemp's decision to sign the bill into law was influenced by his support for the Second Amendment and his belief in the constitutional right to bear arms. He also cited concerns for public safety and the need to empower law-abiding citizens to protect themselves, especially in light of rising violent crime rates.
The Georgia Constitutional Carry Act has been praised by conservative lawmakers and Second Amendment advocates, who view it as a way to eliminate unnecessary paperwork for individuals who are already legally allowed to carry weapons. However, opponents of the bill have criticized it for creating a loophole to bypass background checks, which they argue can potentially lead to increased shooting deaths.
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Kemp signs bill allowing permitless carry of a concealed handgun in public
On April 12, 2022, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 319, also known as the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (or Law), into law. The bill allows Georgia residents to carry handguns, including concealed handguns, in public without a license or background check. This move fulfilled one of Kemp's 2018 campaign promises to pass a "constitutional carry" law.
The bill signing took place in front of a crowd of Second Amendment enthusiasts gathered at Gable's Sporting Goods in Douglasville. Governor Kemp was joined by First Lady Marty Kemp, two of his daughters, state constitutional officers, legislators, and other special guests.
Prior to the bill's passage, gun owners in Georgia were required to file an application for a weapons carry license if they wanted to carry a concealed firearm in public. However, with the new law in place, this process is no longer necessary. Kemp and other supporters of the bill argued that it is a public safety measure, empowering law-abiding citizens to protect themselves without needing permission from the state government.
Opponents of the bill, including Democrats, have criticized it for eliminating the background check requirement triggered by the license application. They argue that this could fuel shooting deaths and create a dangerous loophole for bypassing background checks in private sales.
In addition to Senate Bill 319, Governor Kemp also signed House Bill 218, a license reciprocity measure. This bill ensures that individuals who are licensed to carry a weapon in another state are also authorized to do so in Georgia.
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Kemp signs bill allowing people to carry handguns without a license in Georgia
On April 12, 2022, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) into law, allowing Georgians to carry handguns in public without a license or background check. This legislation, also known as "constitutional carry," removes the requirement for gun owners to obtain a weapons carry license from the state to carry a concealed firearm in public.
Governor Kemp, a Republican, had made passing constitutional carry legislation a campaign promise in 2018. On the day of the signing, he gathered with Second Amendment enthusiasts in front of Gable's Sporting Goods in Douglasville, stating that the bill is a public safety measure. He emphasized that individuals have the constitutional right to bear arms without government infringement, and that obtaining a license should not be a prerequisite to legally carrying a weapon.
The bill signing was met with praise from conservative lawmakers and Second Amendment advocates, who viewed it as a step towards enhancing public safety and reducing unnecessary paperwork. They argued that law-abiding citizens should be able to protect themselves, especially in light of rising crime rates. Additionally, Governor Kemp and Republican lawmakers addressed concerns about violent crime not only in Georgia but across the country, asserting that criminals are obtaining guns illegally regardless of existing regulations.
However, the bill was not without opposition. Critics, including Democrats, pointed out that removing the license requirement also eliminates the background check that was triggered by the license application process. They warned that this could lead to an increase in shooting deaths and create a dangerous loophole in private gun sales. Despite these concerns, Governor Kemp remained steadfast in his support for the bill, citing it as a victory for the people of Georgia and their constitutional rights.
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Georgia Gun Owners pressure Brian Kemp to sign Constitutional Carry
Georgia's gun owners pressured Brian Kemp to sign the Constitutional Carry bill into law, and on April 12, 2022, he did just that. The bill, known as Senate Bill 319 or SB 319, allows Georgia residents to carry handguns in public without a license or background check. This was a campaign promise that Governor Kemp made in 2018, and gun rights advocates had been urging him to fulfill it.
The National Association for Gun Rights and its Georgia members, along with other Second Amendment enthusiasts, played a significant role in advocating for the bill's passage. They lobbied lawmakers and called on Governor Kemp to sign the bill without delay, arguing that it would restore the constitutional right to bear arms without government infringement or taxation.
In the days leading up to the bill signing, Georgia Gun Owners urged gun owners to keep the pressure on Governor Kemp. They encouraged phone calls, emails, Facebook messages, and in-person interactions at campaign stops to ensure that the governor followed through on his commitment. The group also planned to run digital ads across the state to counter the opposition's messaging.
Governor Kemp, a Republican, framed the bill as a public safety measure, citing concerns about rising violent crime in Georgia and across the country. He emphasized that law-abiding citizens should be able to protect themselves without seeking permission from the state government. The bill signing took place in front of a crowd of supporters at Gable Sporting Goods in Douglasville, Georgia.
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Kemp signs SB 319, Georgia's Constitutional Carry bill
On April 12, 2022, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 319, also known as the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act, into law. The bill, which allows Georgians to carry concealed handguns in public without a license or background check, was signed at Gable's Sporting Goods in Douglasville.
Governor Kemp was joined by First Lady Marty Kemp, two of his daughters, state constitutional officers, legislators, and other special guests. In his remarks, Kemp emphasized that the bill was about public safety and restoring the constitutional right to bear arms without government infringement. He also highlighted the efforts made to enhance penalties for those who flee or elude law enforcement and to strengthen tools to combat street gangs and human trafficking.
The signing of SB 319 was the culmination of a campaign promise made by Kemp in 2018 to pass a "constitutional carry" law. The bill faced opposition from Democrats and liberal news outlets, who argued that it would fuel shooting deaths and create a dangerous loophole to bypass background checks. However, it was supported by conservative lawmakers and Second Amendment advocates, who praised it as a way to eliminate unnecessary paperwork for individuals who are already legally allowed to carry weapons.
The National Association for Gun Rights also played a significant role in advocating for the bill, with its President, Dudley Brown, stating that it was a great day for gun owners as half of the states in America would have restored the constitutional right to bear arms without government infringement.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Governor Brian Kemp signed the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) into law on April 12, 2022.
The bill, also known as the "Constitutional Carry Act", allows Georgia residents to carry handguns, including concealed weapons, in public without a license or background check.
Second Amendment enthusiasts and conservative lawmakers praised the measure, citing individual rights and public safety. Opponents, including Democrats, argued that it eliminates a necessary safety measure by removing background checks and claimed that it would lead to an increase in shooting deaths.
