Posted on 02/04/2008 5:28:35 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Gun owners entering churches, restaurants or public parks could take their guns with them, under a bill passed by the Georgia House on Thursday.
They also could leave them in their glove compartments at work.
On a 111-58 vote, the House voted to expand greatly the rights of permitted gun owners to carry their concealed weapons into places prohibited now under Georgia law.
"Georgia is the most restrictive state for law-abiding citizens, with Georgia firearms-license permits, in the nation," said state Rep. Tim Bearden (R-Villa Rica), the bill's author.
"I think we've got work to do in this state, when California and New York [have] better gun laws than us."
"This is the 'take your gun to church' bill," said state Rep. Doug McKillip (D-Athens), who voted against the legislation.
"This is the 'take your gun to work' bill. ... Under this bill, you can take your gun to Chili's."
The measure returns to the Senate, which passed a similar bill in January but must vote again because the House amended the legislation Thursday.
Those changes include lifting the ban on taking a gun into church and liberalizing the existing ban on carrying firearms into bars.
Under the amended bill, a permitted gun owner can carry a firearm into restaurants that make less than half of their money from alcohol sales.
Bearden said private-property owners, including church congregations, would retain the right to keep guns off their lands.
State Rep. Bobby Reese (R-Sugar Hill) invoked the name of Meredith Emerson during a question to Bearden.
Emerson is the Buford woman who was kidnapped while hiking in North Georgia on Jan. 1 and later killed. On Thursday, a judge sentenced Gary Michael Hilton to life in prison after Hilton pleaded guilty to Emerson's murder.
"Is it not true also that if she chose on her own free will to arm herself," Reese asked, "possibly with a handgun, at that time being by herself in the woods, that she may very well be alive today?"
Bearden replied: "As a law-abiding citizen, she was forced to disarm, just like anyone else who would be forced to disarm, if they want to go for a hike."
That's the point, you dolt!
We have cc in TN
I wonder if it applies to churches ???
Ask Colorado! Look up “New Life Church shootings”
Liberal idiots will never understand.
Matthew Murray.
That was the New Life Church shooter. Stopped by a civilian with a carry permit.
He killed two girls and wounded their daddy in the parking lot.
Most churches in MN forbid carrying in/on their premises.
I just don’t tell or “print”.
Simple....
Generally Churches may post that firearms are off limits.
Many just ignore the rule but it is difficult to conceal when people are hugging you.
It has always galled me that I can't carry where I may need it the most -- sporting events, restaurants, church . . .
Luby's Cafeteria comes to mind too.
My church congregation includes several active and retired LEO’s. I not only hope, but EXPECT that they are carrying.
According to Romans 13 they are just as much ministers as those occupying the pulpit.
Thank God.
Great, now an open carry right would be nice as well.
Sad day in America when Churches become targets for the deranged, but it is what is, a fallen world eh?
COOL! Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!
Thanks be to God ! Now I can worry much less about where I am with my gun. If I walk into a Chilis then I wont be arrested.
GOD BLESS Our wise leaders in Georgia !!!
I'm sure much of this is at the bequest of our POS "republican" governor (another democrat turd who flipped when it was politically expedient), who seems to be more interested in placating wealthy businessmen, than protecting and expanding the limits of freedom and Constitutional rights of Georgia citizens.
See this article (sorry, don't know how to make it an active link):
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2008/02/01/a_real_whodunnit_the_senate_ma.html
Now the church will really start tithing. LOL!
Haven’t these folks heard of the “church militant”? (:^)
The right of self-defense is inherent.
On the frontier of the late 1700s, it was common to take your “gun” to church, “...with each man setting them in a corner till after meeting.”
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