An individual right to own a gun for personal protection is an idea deeply ingrained in American culture, but until Dick Heller came along, there was little actual legal framework to back that belief.
The abrupt cancellation of Atlanta's September Music Midtown Festival has infuriated music fans. The event's organizer, Live Nation, has not officially said what led to the cancellation, but reports say Georgia's gun laws are to blame. Phil Evans, a gun rights advocate has also been blamed for the loss of this year's festival. He spoke with GPB's Peter Biello.
The CEO of a Georgia gun manufacturer testified in front of Congress on Wednesday, as part of an ongoing investigation by lawmakers into what is fueling the country’s high rates of gun violence.
Georgians will soon be able to carry a concealed handgun in public without first obtaining a license from the state, as the General Assembly passed legislation that the governor promises to sign into law.
Under current law, gun owners must file an application for a weapons carry license if they want to carry a concealed firearm in public. Proponents argue the new measure simply does away with unnecessary paperwork for those already legally able to carry a gun. But critics worry about who will slip through the cracks.
Wednesday on Political Rewind: It was one year ago today that Georgia voters handed control of the U.S. Senate to Democrats when they elected Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. But as the 2022 election cycle gets underway, Republicans and Democrats are ready for a fierce fight to determine which party will claim dominance of state politics. Like many states, Georgia is seeing a powerful new wave of COVID-19 cases. The Department of Public Health reported more than 67,000 confirmed cases over the new year holiday weekend. Gov. Kemp is set to announce his support for a further loosening of Georgia’s gun laws. Plus, Andre Dickens is sworn in as Atlanta's new mayor…and there’s tightened security on Capitol Hill as the one-year anniversary of the insurrection approaches.
Each new legislative session brings the opportunity for lawmakers to bring home a victory for their constituents, and for Georgia Republicans, passing an expansion of gun rights in 2022 could be just the thing to make their base happy in an election year.
At issue is how much the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to carry concealed weapons outside their home for self-defense. The case will likely be argued in the fall.
House Bill 218 passed the Georgia Senate by a vote of 34-18 Monday. The bill allows any legal gun owner from another state to carry their weapons in Georgia, even if their home state has a different set of license standards.
