Safe Carry Protection Act

Last updated July 24, 2024

The Safe Carry Protection Act (House Bill 60, also known as the Guns Everywhere Bill^[1]) is a law in the state of Georgia that dictates where firearms may be carried by residents of the state. It also allows residents with a permit to carry a concealed weapon to bring firearms into "bars, churches, school zones, government buildings and certain parts of airports." The bill passed the Georgia General Assembly, passing the House of Representatives by a vote of 112-58 and the Senate by 37-18. The bill received support from the Republican and Democratic candidates in the 2014 gubernatorial election: incumbent Nathan Deal and State Senator Jason Carter.^[2]

Specifics

The law permits churches to disallow firearms. Persons found in possession are subject to a $100 fine.^[2] Government buildings without security (libraries for example) by default allow guns, while firearms may be carried into a bar by a licensed gun owner unless it is prohibited by the bar owner. People found carrying a gun into a bar where the owner prohibits them may be charged with trespassing. There was no change to the prohibition of carrying a gun on a college campus, however the fine for being in possession was reduced to $100.^[1] While permitted within airports and the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint lines, firearms are still not permitted within the secure area. The law also reduces the age required to carry a firearm from 21 to 18 for serving or honorably-discharged members of the armed forces who have completed basic training.^[2] School staff are permitted to carry firearms at elementary and high schools at the discretion of the school district. Databases listing residents with a concealed carry permit will not be maintained, and police cannot stop people to verify if they have a permit.^[1] According to its critics, the law also allows anyone, even those who cannot legally possess a gun (such as convicted felons), to claim a defense under the state's stand-your-ground law.^[3]

Disallowments

Retailer Target has announced that their stores will not allow customers carrying guns, as it is at "odds with the family-friendly shopping and work experience we strive to create".^[4] Mayor of Atlanta Kasim Reed mandated that all public city buildings would not permit firearms, "with the exception of certain public safety officials and employees". Despite the law, Atlanta city employees will not be permitted to carry firearms while at work, or store firearms in their vehicles in secured city parking facilities.^[5]

Related Research Articles

Concealed carry, or carrying a concealed weapon (CCW), is the practice of carrying a weapon in public in a concealed manner, either on one's person or in close proximity. CCW is often practiced as a means of self-defense. Following the Supreme Court's NYSRPA v. Bruen (2022) decision, all states in the United States were required to allow for concealed carry of a handgun either permitlessly or with a permit, although the difficulty in obtaining a permit varies per jurisdiction.

In the United States, open carry refers to the practice of visibly carrying a firearm in public places, as distinguished from concealed carry, where firearms cannot be seen by the casual observer. To "carry" in this context indicates that the firearm is kept readily accessible on the person, within a holster or attached to a sling. Carrying a firearm directly in the hands, particularly in a firing position or combat stance, is known as "brandishing" and may constitute a serious crime, but is not the mode of "carrying" discussed in this article.

Gun laws in California regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of California in the United States.

GeorgiaCarry.org (GCO) is a state-level gun rights organization that is dedicated to preserving and protecting the rights of its members to keep and bear arms as protected by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Paragraph VIII of the Constitution of the State of Georgia. On its website, the organization describes itself as "Georgia's no-compromise voice for gun owners." The organization is also referred to as Georgia Carry in conversation and press coverage. It is a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Georgia. It has been described as Georgia's "powerful firearms lobbyist" that "makes the National Rifle Association look like a popgun group".

Gun laws in Florida regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Florida in the United States.

Gun laws in Oklahoma regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Oklahoma in the United States.

In the United States, the term constitutional carry, also called permitless carry, unrestricted carry, or Vermont carry, refers to the legal public carrying of a handgun, either openly or concealed, without a license or permit. The phrase does not typically refer to the unrestricted carrying of a long gun, a knife, or other weapons. The scope and applicability of constitutional carry may vary by state.

Gun laws in Utah regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Utah in the United States.

Gun laws in Georgia regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Georgia in the United States.

Gun laws in Illinois regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Illinois in the United States.

Gun laws in Indiana regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the U.S. state of Indiana. Laws and regulations are subject to change.

Gun laws in Kansas regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Kansas in the United States.

Gun laws in Kentucky regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the United States.

Gun laws in Maine regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the U.S. state of Maine.

Gun laws in Missouri regulate the sale, possession and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Missouri in the United States.

Gun laws in Ohio regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the U.S. state of Ohio.

Gun laws in Pennsylvania regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States.

Gun laws in Texas regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the U.S. state of Texas.

Gun laws in Virginia regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States.

In the United States, campus carry refers to the possession of firearms on college or university campuses. Each state has its own discretion on laws concerning campus carry.

References

1 2 3 Fitzpatrick, Meagan (4 April 2014). "Georgia's 'guns everywhere' bill celebrated by pro-gun lobby". CBC. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
1 2 3 Sayers, Devon M.; McLaughlin, Eliott C. (23 April 2014). "Georgia law allows guns in some schools, bars, churches". Ellijay, Georgia. CNN. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
↑ Levintova, Hannah (13 March 2014). "Guns May Soon Be Everywhere in Georgia". Mother Jones. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
↑ Hellmann, Melissa (2 July 2014). "A Convenience-Store Face-Off Illustrates the Dangers of Georgia's New Gun Law". Time. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
↑ Lazar, Alex (1 July 2014). "Atlanta Mayor Says City Facilities Will Be Gun Free". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 3 July 2014.

Safe Carry Protection Act

Contents

Specifics

Disallowments

See also

Related Research Articles

References

Further reading