Simone Lawson
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. The bill, also known as constitutional carry, removes the requirement for a weapons carry license to carry a concealed firearm in public. Governor Kemp, a Republican, had promised to pass this legislation during his 2018 campaign, and his signature fulfilled that commitment. This move was praised by Second Amendment enthusiasts and conservative lawmakers but criticized by Democrats and advocates for stricter gun laws, who pointed out the elimination of a critical background check measure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12th April 2022 |
| Bill Number | SB 319 |
| Other Legislation | HB 218 |
| Bill Name | Georgia Constitutional Carry Act |
| Bill Sponsor | Brian Kemp |
| Bill Type | State Bill |
| State | Georgia |
| Background Checks Required | No |
| License Required | No |
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What You'll Learn
- Governor Brian Kemp signs the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act into law
- The bill allows people to carry handguns without a license in Georgia
- Democrats oppose the bill, citing concerns about rising gun violence
- Republicans support the bill, arguing it will enable people to protect themselves
- Kemp's signature on Senate Bill 319 legalises constitutional carry
Governor Brian Kemp signs the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act into law
Governor Brian Kemp has signed the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act into law, allowing Georgians to carry a concealed handgun in public without a license or background check. This legislation, also known as "constitutional carry" or "permitless carry", removes the requirement for gun owners to obtain a weapons carry license from the state.
Kemp, a Republican, signed the bill on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, joined by his wife, Marty Kemp, two of his daughters, state constitutional officers, legislators, and other special guests. The bill signing took place in front of a crowd of supporters outside Gable Sporting Goods in Douglasville, Georgia.
Supporters of the bill argue that it is a public safety measure that allows law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families. They believe that it simply upholds the Second Amendment right to bear arms without unnecessary government interference. Kemp himself stated, "People don't have to carry if they don't want to. But this is a constitutional authority that people have and they certainly shouldn't have to have a piece of paper from the government to be able to legally carry a weapon."
However, the bill has faced opposition from Democrats and advocates for stricter gun laws. They argue that the law eliminates one of the few background checks Georgia has in place, which could allow dangerous criminals to obtain weapons more easily. A poll conducted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that nearly 70% of Georgia voters opposed permitless carry and believed adults in Georgia should not be able to carry a concealed handgun in public without a license.
In addition to the Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319), Kemp also signed a license reciprocity measure (HB 218) into law. This measure 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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The bill allows 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 people to carry handguns without a license in the state of Georgia. This legislation, also known as "constitutional carry," removes the requirement for a license or a background check to carry a weapon in public.
Governor Kemp, a Republican, has described the bill as a public safety measure, stating that it is about preserving the Second Amendment. He also emphasized that it is an individual's constitutional right to bear arms, granted by the United States Constitution, and not by the government. The bill signing fulfilled a campaign promise made by Kemp during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
Supporters of the bill, including conservative lawmakers and Second Amendment advocates, argue that it eliminates unnecessary paperwork for individuals who are already legal gun owners. They believe that allowing law-abiding citizens to carry weapons without a license can deter crime. Additionally, the bill includes HB 218, a license reciprocity measure that authorizes individuals with a valid license to carry a weapon in another state to do the same in Georgia.
However, the bill has faced opposition from Democrats and advocates for stricter gun laws. They argue that the elimination of the license requirement also removes one of the few background checks in place for gun ownership in Georgia. This change is concerning given the current high levels of gun violence. A poll by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that nearly 70% of Georgia voters opposed permitless carry and believed adults should not be able to carry concealed handguns in public without a license.
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Democrats oppose the bill, citing concerns about rising gun violence
On April 12, 2022, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed 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.
Democrats and advocates for stricter gun laws opposed the bill, citing concerns about rising gun violence. They argued that the bill would eliminate one of the few background checks in place in Georgia and contribute to increasing levels of gun violence. A poll by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that nearly 70% of Georgia voters opposed permitless carry, believing that adults should not be able to carry concealed handguns in public without a license.
In the lead-up to the bill's signing, a group of Democrats gathered in opposition in Douglasville. State Sen. Donzella James, an Atlanta Democrat, accused Kemp of using the legislation to gain political points in an election year, stating, "Criminal carry is a blatant effort by the governor to score political points in an election year."
The bill's opponents also highlighted the dangers of removing background checks, which provide assurance that an armed permit holder is not a danger to the public. They argued that the removal of this safety measure could fuel shooting deaths and result in harmful consequences.
Similar concerns have been raised by Democrats in other states, such as Texas and Florida, where there has been opposition to permitless carry bills. In Texas, Democrats proposed amendments to require background checks for stranger-to-stranger gun sales and incentives for reporting stolen weapons, which were rejected by Republicans. In Florida, a poll found that 68% of Miami-Dade voters opposed permitless carry, including a significant number of Republicans and DeSantis voters.
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Republicans support the bill, arguing it will enable people to protect themselves
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia signed the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) and a license reciprocity measure (HB 218) into law on April 12, 2022. The bill allows Georgia residents to carry concealed handguns in public without a license or background check.
Republicans and supporters of the bill argue that it is a public safety measure that will enable people to protect themselves and their families. They believe that it is a necessary step to allow law-abiding citizens to carry a weapon for self-defence, especially in light of rising crime rates. According to state Sen. Jason Anavitarte, R-Dallas, "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."
The bill eliminates the need for gun owners to file an application for a weapons carry license, which was previously required to carry a concealed firearm in public. Republicans argue that this removes an unnecessary burden on legal gun owners, as the Constitution of the United States guarantees the right to bear arms. Chikamauga Republican Sen. Jeff Mullis stated, "The Constitution of the United States says that we have the right to bear arms, and it doesn't say 'if'—it doesn't say 'if' anything."
Governor Kemp himself echoed these sentiments, stating that "people don't have to carry if they don't want to. But this is a constitutional authority that people have, and they certainly shouldn't need a piece of paper from the government to be able to legally carry a weapon." He also emphasized that the bill is about preserving the Second Amendment and ensuring the safety of Georgia's citizens, stating that "we stood up for the safety and constitutional rights of our citizens and always backed our men and women in blue."
In addition to enabling self-defence, Republicans also argue that the bill will not lead to an increase in crime. They believe that potential criminals may be deterred, as they will not know if their intended victims are carrying weapons. This, they argue, could lead to a decrease in crimes such as street racing and human trafficking, which the bill aims to address alongside strengthening tools to combat street gangs.
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Kemp's signature on Senate Bill 319 legalises constitutional carry
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 a weapons carry license to carry a concealed firearm in public.
Governor Kemp's signature on Senate Bill 319 was the culmination of a campaign promise he made in 2018. Standing in front of supporters outside Gable Sporting Goods in Douglasville, he framed the bill as a public safety measure, stating that it is about "constitutional carry" and preserving the Second Amendment. He also emphasised that it is a right granted by the Constitution of the United States, not the government.
Supporters of the bill, including Republican state Sen. Jason Anavitarte, argued that it is necessary to allow law-abiding citizens to protect themselves more easily in the face of rising crime. They believe that criminals may be deterred, as they won't know if their potential victim is carrying a weapon. Additionally, Chikamauga Republican Sen. Jeff Mullis asserted that the Constitution grants the right to bear arms without conditions.
However, the bill faced opposition from Democrats and advocates for stricter gun laws. They pointed out that the bill eliminates one of the few background checks Georgia has in place, which could allow dangerous criminals to obtain weapons more easily. A poll by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that nearly 70% of Georgia voters opposed permitless carry. Despite the opposition, Governor Kemp's signature on SB 319 legalised constitutional carry in Georgia, marking a significant shift in the state's gun laws.
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Frequently asked questions
Governor Brian Kemp signed the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act (SB 319) into law on April 12, 2022.
The Act allows Georgia residents to carry handguns in public without a license or background check.
The Act is significant because it eliminates the requirement for a weapons carry license to carry a concealed firearm in public, fulfilling a campaign promise made by Governor Kemp in 2018.
The Act has been praised by conservative lawmakers and Second Amendment advocates as a measure to ensure public safety and protect law-abiding citizens' right to bear arms. However, Democrats and advocates for stricter gun laws have criticized the Act, arguing that it eliminates necessary background checks and could fuel shooting deaths.
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