Georgia policy change allows guns in cars on school property

savannahnow.com ^ | 13 January, 2011 | Jenel Few

[marktwain]

Savannah-Chatham Public Schools officials have reluctantly weakened their weapons policy in order to comply with a new Georgia law allowing gun owners to store guns in cars parked on school property.

"It's scary, but it's state law," said David Fields, chief executive officer of the Savannah-Chatham Public School System.

Employees of the state who are licensed gun owners can now store guns in privately owned vehicles they park on their employer's premises, as long as the weapon is locked in an enclosed compartment and out of sight, according to Georgia Code 16-11-135. But the law doesn't just open the door to gun-packing teachers and cafeteria workers. Any visitors and contract service providers who are licensed gun owners may also bring guns onto school property in their cars, as long as the guns are locked in a compartment, container or gun rack. Previously, schools were considered safety zones and no one was allowed to bring weapons anywhere on the property.

Operations Chief Otis Brock said the changes were made to comply with Senate Bill 308, passed last year. The law, known as Georgia's Common Sense Lawful Carry Act was designed to provide clarification on where licensed gun owners can and cannot take weapons. But district officials said gun owners shouldn't start dusting off their gun racks just yet.

"Our no weapons policy still stands for students," Brock said. "Students, even if they are licensed adults, may not store guns in their cars.

[marktwain]

"Students, even if they are licensed adults, may not store guns in their cars."

Teaching students who is master.

[sweet_diane]

I grew up in what was, at the time, rural Texas. (now just another part of Houston I believe, lol) If you went out to my high school's parking lot you'd find lots of guns! Most, if not all, the trucks had gun racks and there were guns on the racks! Even the narc dogs ignored them (but they didn't ignore Jack Daniels bottles, pot seeds and hand guns)

But that was a different time.

[1010RD]

That’s the point of government schooling isn’t it?

To train the next generation of slaves.

Here’s the keyword : “reluctantly”. There isn’t a pro-liberty school system in America. The teachers and their administrators simply do not believe in liberty.

There is no attempt to educate in a way that allows individuals to take responsibility. Someone else decides what you will learn, when and how. It’s the very opposite of liberty and the results - near permanent immaturity as adults - are obvious.

[ViLaLuz]

“Public Schools officials have reluctantly weakened their weapons policy”

Not “weakened,” STRENGTHENED.

[Blueflag]

Two aspects of this article worth ‘correcting’:

1. “Any visitors and contract service providers who are licensed gun owners may also bring guns onto school property in their cars, as long as the guns are locked in a compartment, container or gun rack. Previously, schools were considered safety zones and no one was allowed to bring weapons anywhere on the property.”

NOT TRUE.

Previously GFA/CCW licensed individuals WERE permitted “previously” to have their firearms on their person or property in the course of normal business, like dropping off or picking up your child, but could not bring the weapon INTO the school. Best course recommended was to never get out of the vehicle with your firearm, even if concealed. THAT is still true, AND the Common Sense law now says you can lock your firearm in your car and go to a school concert etc., without fear of the law.

Secondly ...

“”Our no weapons policy still stands for students,” Brock said. “Students, even if they are licensed adults, may not store guns in their cars””

... interesting policies that are about to be challenged, particularly at the college level, where these policies are prevalent in GA. For instance, at Ga Tech where several assaults/robberies have occurred, there has been a good bit of public debate about the legality and ethics of PREVENTING students from LEGALLY arming themselves in their housing, property or persons.

Policy does not supersede law. Just look at civil rights/ EEOC laws v. “company policy”

[Blueflag]

BTW, II Chron 7 is best read all the way through verse 19. God had two important parts of that promise to Israel.

If yes = heal

If no = continues with worse punishment.

There’s a lesson there ...

[CPOSharky]

...as long as the weapon is locked in an enclosed compartment and out of sight... But..."It's scary... A real manly man, not.

BTW, Georgia requires a "gun owners" license?

When I was stationed at NAS Albany, we used to cart our guns all over the state, and even into N. Florida, shooting in the South Georiga Police Pistol League with no such BS.

[NavyCanDo]

When I was in High School in the mid 1970’s it was not unusual to see a hunting rifle in the gun rack of a student's pickup. The school even had a competition shooting club. One of the yearbook photos has the club (which included one girl) posing with their rifles on the front steps of the school. None of us ever gave it a second thought.

[ExGeeEye]

Previously, schools were considered safety zones...

And now they will actually be (marginally) safer. Better would have been to recognize Constitutional Carry, but....baby steps...

[Conan the Librarian]

I’d confirm this if I were you.

I wouldn’t believe anything Jenel Few wrote. If she wrote that the sky were blue, I’d check it twice.

I work for a local organization here in Coastal Georgia who she has written about before. We found that she actually made quotes up about us. The persons she was supposed to be quoting were quite surprised at her writings.

Is there any other newswriter out there you could get this info from?

[Cailleach]

A friend of mine posted about this on Facebook last week. She’d seen something on the nightly propaganda, erm, news. She was dead convinced that students were going to be running amok with guns in the middle schools. I did a teeny bit of research and told her that it was only teachers who were licensed to carry already (reminded her that it takes a good deal of effort to get that license...and that the people who go through the background checks for the license are not the types to go postal at whim), and the weapons were to be unloaded and locked in the car. The thugs with guns are still going to have them, and they probably don’t have them unloaded and locked in the car.

She had no clue about what the law said...just what the angry lady on the news was spouting, invoking fear among the parents. :( I do love her, but sometimes she’s such a sheep.

Now that I’ve gotten that out...about the students. You have to be 21 to get a license in GA. How many 21 year old school kids are there? I went to school in GA, and there was one 21 yr old in the graduating class before me...she was mainstreamed special ed, who they had to graduate, because she was 21. Very sweet, but...I wonder where she is now. Poor dear. Don’t think she could have gotten a license for a weapon though (goodness, I hope not...she couldn’t keep track of her lunch money, her little brother had to keep it for her).

[ViLaLuz]

“BTW, II Chron 7 is best read all the way through verse 19. God had two important parts of that promise to Israel.

If yes = heal

If no = continues with worse punishment.

There’s a lesson there ...”

AMEN Blueflag.

[AvOrdVet]

BTW, Georgia requires a "gun owners" license?

It's the GFL or Georgia Firearms License, which started out as a concealed carry permit, now you can carry concealed or open with it, also serves as the background check when buying weapons.

You can still transport weapons around the state without a permit under most circumstances.

Next stop Constitutional Carry!

[Libertyyy]

I am a senior in high school and 90% of the time I’m in school, I have a hunting rifle in the trunk. If you went through the vehicles at my school you will find many more. I don’t see the big deal in it honestly.