Malcolm Rivera
On April 12, 2022, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) into law, allowing Georgians to carry concealed handguns in public without a license from the state. The bill, also known as constitutional carry or permitless carry, removes the requirement to obtain a permit to carry a handgun in public, with supporters arguing that it reinforces the Second Amendment right to bear arms and protects citizens' safety. Critics, however, argue that it eliminates a necessary background check that helps keep firearms out of the hands of criminals. Governor Kemp, fulfilling a 2018 campaign promise, stated that the legislation is about doing what is right for the people of Georgia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the bill | Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) |
| Other names | "Constitutional carry", "criminal carry" |
| Signed into law by | Governor Brian P. Kemp |
| Date signed into law | 13 April 2022 |
| What it does | Removes the requirement to get a permit to carry a handgun in public |
| Who it affects | Georgians, people with a license to carry a weapon in another state |
| Who supports it | Republicans, Second Amendment enthusiasts, gun rights advocates |
| Who opposes it | Democrats, state Sen. Donzella James, state Sen. Elena Parent |
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What You'll Learn
- The bill allows Georgians to carry handguns in public without a license
- The bill removes an unnecessary barrier to the constitutional right to carry handguns
- The bill was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp
- The bill is also known as the constitutional carry or criminal carry act
- The bill has been criticised for removing a background check that stops criminals from obtaining guns
The bill allows Georgians to carry handguns in public without a license
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. This legislation, also known as "constitutional carry," removes the requirement to obtain a permit or license to carry a concealed handgun in public.
Before the bill was signed into law, gun owners in Georgia had to file an application for a weapons carry license if they wanted to carry a concealed firearm in public. They had to apply for a license with their local probate court or sheriff's office, depending on the county, get fingerprinted, submit to a background check, and pay a fee of up to $75. With the new law in place, these requirements are no longer necessary, and Georgians can carry concealed handguns without a license from the state.
Supporters of the measure argue that it upholds the Second Amendment and removes an unnecessary barrier to their constitutional right to carry handguns. They also highlight that long guns could already be carried without a license in Georgia, and the state did not require training or a waiting period when buying a gun. Additionally, some supporters believe that obtaining a permit is an unnecessary burden, as gun owners will likely still obtain a permit to have gun carry "reciprocity" in other states.
However, critics of the bill have expressed concerns about eliminating one of the few background checks in place for gun purchases in Georgia. They argue that removing the permit requirement will allow dangerous criminals to obtain guns more easily and put the public at risk. Despite these concerns, Governor Kemp emphasized that the bill was about doing what was right for the people of Georgia and ensuring their safety.
It is worth noting that background checks will still be necessary when purchasing a handgun from a licensed gun dealer or store, and the state permitting process will remain in place to allow for gun carry "reciprocity" with other states.
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The bill removes an unnecessary barrier to the constitutional right to carry handguns
Governor Brian P. Kemp of Georgia has signed the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) into law, allowing Georgians to carry handguns in public without a license from the state. This legislation removes the requirement to obtain a permit to carry a handgun, which supporters say eliminates an unnecessary barrier to their constitutional right to bear arms.
Under previous Georgia law, gun owners were required to file an application for a weapons carry license if they wanted to carry a concealed firearm in public. This process involved applying for a license with their local probate court or sheriff's office, undergoing fingerprinting, submitting to a background check, and paying a fee of up to $75. With the new bill in effect, these requirements no longer apply, and Georgians can carry concealed handguns without a license.
Supporters of the bill, including Kemp himself, argue that it upholds the Second Amendment and the constitutional right to bear arms. They believe that law-abiding citizens should have the right to protect themselves and their families without unnecessary restrictions. Additionally, supporters argue that the bill promotes safety by allowing individuals to defend themselves against criminals who may illegally obtain firearms.
However, critics of the bill have expressed concerns about the elimination of background checks, which are no longer required for those without a license. Background checks are still necessary when purchasing a handgun from a licensed dealer, but critics worry that removing this requirement for carrying a handgun could allow dangerous individuals to obtain weapons more easily. Despite these concerns, the bill has been signed into law, reflecting the priorities of conservative lawmakers and Second Amendment advocates in Georgia.
While the bill removes the requirement for a license to carry a concealed handgun, it is important to note that there are still restrictions on where guns can be carried. For example, guns are prohibited in secured areas of airports, government buildings with security entrances, and the state Capitol. The bill also does not change the state's permitting process, which allows Georgians to take advantage of gun carry "reciprocity" agreements with other states.
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The bill was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia signed the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) into law on April 12, 2022. The bill, also known as "constitutional carry," allows Georgians to carry concealed handguns in public without first obtaining a license from the state. This means that gun owners in Georgia no longer need to file an application for a weapons carry license if they want to carry a concealed firearm in public.
Governor Kemp's decision to sign the bill into law was based on his support for the Second Amendment and his belief that individuals have the constitutional right to bear arms and protect themselves and their families. He also stated that the bill would help build a safer and stronger Georgia. The bill signing ceremony was attended by First Lady Marty Kemp, two of the governor's daughters, state constitutional officers, legislators, and other special guests.
The Georgia Constitutional Carry Act removes the requirement for Georgians to obtain a permit or license to carry a concealed handgun in public. Previously, gun owners had to apply for a weapons carry license through their local probate court or sheriff's office, undergo a background check, and pay a fee. With the new law in place, background checks will still be necessary when purchasing a handgun from a licensed gun dealer, but the permitting process for carrying a concealed weapon has been eliminated.
While supporters of the bill cheered the protection of their constitutional right to carry handguns, critics argued that removing the permit requirement eliminates one of the few background checks in place for gun ownership in Georgia. Some opponents also expressed concern that the bill could allow dangerous individuals to obtain firearms more easily. Despite these objections, Governor Kemp and Republican lawmakers pushed for the bill's passage, citing concerns about increasing violent crime in Georgia and across the country.
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The bill is also known as the constitutional carry or criminal carry act
On April 12, 2022, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp signed the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) into law. The bill, also known as the "constitutional carry" or "criminal carry" act, allows Georgians to carry handguns in public without obtaining a license from the state.
The constitutional carry act removes the requirement to obtain a permit to carry a handgun in public, which was previously mandated by Georgia law. Under the new legislation, a ""lawful weapons carrier" is defined as anyone who is lawfully allowed to have a gun. While the bill does away with the need for a permit, background checks will still be necessary when purchasing a handgun from a store or dealer.
Supporters of the measure argue that it reinforces the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms and removes an unnecessary barrier to their constitutional rights. They also highlight the widespread concern for safety among Georgians due to a spike in violent crime across the country. Governor Kemp emphasized that "criminals are getting the guns anyway" and that the bill empowers individuals to defend themselves and their families.
However, critics of the bill have expressed concerns about eliminating one of the few background check requirements in Georgia. They worry that dangerous individuals who should not have access to firearms may slip through the cracks. Despite these objections, the bill passed with a vote of 34-22 in the Senate and was promptly signed into law by Governor Kemp.
The signing of the constitutional carry act was part of a wave of conservative policy proposals pushed through by Kemp and his legislative allies. Other initiatives included efforts to ban critical race theory from K-12 classrooms, bolster parental control over curriculum, and bar transgender athletes from school sports.
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The bill has been criticised for removing a background check that stops criminals from obtaining guns
On April 13, 2022, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp signed the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) into law, allowing Georgians to carry concealed handguns in public without first obtaining a license from the state. The bill, also known as "constitutional carry," removes the requirement to obtain a permit, including undergoing a background check, to carry a concealed weapon.
While supporters of the bill argue that it protects the constitutional right to bear arms, critics have expressed concern over the removal of the background check requirement. Previously, Georgians seeking to carry a concealed handgun were required to apply for a license, which included submitting to a background check to ensure they did not have a criminal record or other factors that would prohibit them from obtaining a gun.
One of the main criticisms of the bill is that it eliminates one of the few background check requirements for gun ownership in Georgia. Sen. Elena Parent, an Atlanta Democrat, highlighted this concern, stating, "We're removing one of our small checks on keeping weapons carry licenses out of the hands of criminals." Law enforcement officials have also raised concerns about the impact on officer safety, with Fraternal Order of Police lobbyist Michael Weinman stating that removing the duty to notify officers about a weapon in a vehicle poses a clear risk.
In addition to law enforcement, Democrats, and anti-gun violence advocates have criticized the bill, citing public health data that links permitless carry laws to violent crime. They argue that removing the background check requirement will allow dangerous criminals to obtain guns more easily and put the public at risk. This is especially concerning given that Georgia does not require a background check for private sales of firearms, so the permit application process was often the first time a background check was conducted.
While Republicans and gun advocates downplay any link between gun violence and loosened gun laws, critics argue that removing the background check requirement will make it more difficult to keep guns out of the hands of those with mental illnesses, protective orders, or other factors that would prohibit them from obtaining a gun under current law.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia signed the constitutional carry bill into law on April 12, 2022.
The constitutional carry bill, also known as the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319), allows Georgians to carry a concealed handgun in public without a license from the state.
The bill was intended to protect the constitutional right to keep and bear arms and to allow individuals to protect themselves and their families. It was also meant to build a safer, stronger Georgia.
The bill was supported by Republicans and Second Amendment enthusiasts, who praised it as a way to reduce unnecessary paperwork for individuals who are already legally allowed to carry weapons. However, it was criticized by Democrats, who argued that it eliminates a necessary background check and would allow dangerous criminals to obtain guns.
