The NRA, Creating a New Wild West, One State at a Time

On Thursday, the last day of their session, the Georgia legislature passed what opponents are calling the "guns everywhere" bill.  Representative Alan Powell, celebrated with his fellow Republicans.

   

The National Rifle Association, which lobbied for the bill, is calling it "the most comprehensive pro-gun" bill in recent state history, and the vote "a historic victory for the Second Amendment." The bill now goes to Governor Nathan Deal (R) who is expected to sign it into law. 

what eye thynk:  Since the tragedy in Newtown, states in this country have passed 39 laws to tighten gun regulations.  This sounds like progress until you find out that, in that same time period, 70 laws were passed that loosened them.  

Last week, Georgia took their we-love-guns attitude several steps beyond common sense. 

If Gov. Deal signs the bill as expected, it will become legal to carry a loaded firearm:

1. In restaurants and bars (Drunks and firearms, I see no safety issue here.)
2. In airports (This sounds safe too.)
3. In church with the pastor's approval (Because God loves a good gun fight.)
4. In all public schools, K-12 (And they think this is a good idea because...?)
5. In locked cars on college campuses (College shopping checklist:  laptop, textbooks, TV, iPod...ammunition?)
6. In most government buildings, but not the state capitol (We wouldn't want to put these hard-working legislators at risk; but for your average government clerk...Anti-government enthusiasts, come on down!)
7. In polling places (A guy with a loaded gun, hidden behind a curtain. What could go wrong?)

Other parts of the bill are equally appalling:

1. Anyone caught trying to carry a gun onto an airplane will no longer have to worry about being charged with a felony. In Georgia, helpful airport security personnel will confiscate your gun, then send you on your way with just an easy-peasy misdemeanor. (Ooops!  My bad.-- That's okay, buddy.  Enjoy your trip.)
2. Georgia adds their own twist to the Stand Your Ground model.  If you're a convicted felon, (which would make it illegal for you to possess a firearm of any kind), Georgia's new gun law will still give you a pass if you kill someone, (with that illegally carried firearm), as long as you say you were frightened.
3. The National Guard will be prohibited from disarming anyone during a state of emergency. A Georgia citizen will be allowed to sue the federal government if this should occur.  (Will members of the National Guard be protected by the Stand Your Ground law if some gun waving nut case refuses to stop looting his local electronics store when asked politely?)
4. Fingerprints will no longer be required to renew a gun license. (Because it's not that important to know the identity of the person carrying a gun.)
5. The creation of a Weapons Carry License data base is prohibited. (See #4.)
6. The use of hunting silencers is legalized. (So the deer won't hear the kill shot coming?)
7. State agencies are prevented from regulating gun shows.  (Maybe the NRA could step in and fill this gap?)

While the Republican dominated legislature was busy writing and passing these new non-regulations, a bill introduced by Representative Roger Bruce (D) that would require four hours of training for anyone applying for a concealed weapon carry permit has yet to be scheduled for a committee hearing.  

I was looking for citizen responses to the new law when I came across an Atlanta newspaper report about a bar fight in a suburban Atlanta bar.     It happened on the same evening that the new bill was sent to the Governor.  The fight spread to the parking lot, three guns were drawn and a bystander was wounded.   

Less than a year ago, another patron, Tekilum Terrell, was killed in this same bar by another customer who was carrying a (not yet legal) 9-millimeter gun. When questioned about her state's proposed new gun law, Mr. Terrell's mother said "Without that gun, we'd still have him here.  Do we need more guns in bars?  After this?  Seriously?"

Yes, Georgia...seriously?