The Georgia Senate passes laws ending gun licensing

The Georgia Senate on Monday passed a Republican-backed bill that would eliminate the need for a license to carry a handgun in public — eliminating a current background check requirement.

Democrats said the measure would fuel gun deaths and proposed an amendment that would expand background checks, but the GOP-controlled Senate rejected it. Senate Bill 319 passed 34-22 along party lines and now goes to the House of Representatives.

Facing a primary challenge from Republicans, including former US Senator David Perdue, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has backed the repeal. He says Georgia residents should protect their constitutional rights and be able to protect themselves and their families amid an increase in violent crime.

According to Stateline, an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts, more than 20 other states allow concealed guns in public without a permit.

Monday’s vote was preceded by a lengthy debate that included well-known arguments about gun rights and safety. Opponents and supporters also cited recent acts of violence, including the invasion of Ukraine.

Dallas Sen. Jason Anavitarte, a Republican sponsor of the so-called constitutional carry legislation, said criminals are unlikely to go through the state’s approval process. Republicans have argued that the bill would remove an unnecessary burden on people wishing to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

“Today we empower good people, law-abiding people,” said Anavitarte.

Republican Senator Chuck Payne of Dalton, another sponsor of the bill, recalled flashing his pistol when his family was approached by men who appeared high during a camping trip in east Georgia and wondered what had happened when if he could not have afforded the fee for a gun permit.

“What would have come out that day?” he asked.

Other Republicans dismissed concerns about violence, saying the guns themselves were not to blame. Republican Senator Matt Brass of Newnan cited the invasion of Ukraine.

“Ask yourself, ‘What would a Ukrainian citizen say about their right to take up arms and bear arms?'” Brass said.

Democratic Sen. Elena Parent of Atlanta said the bill advances the “extremist gun groups” agenda and is among a series of measures on “wedge issues” being advanced this year. It wouldn’t protect crime victims, she said, citing the shooting at a Parkland, Fla., school and last year’s murders at three Atlanta-area massage parlors.

“We know what we need to do to protect our communities,” she said. “But we do the opposite.”

Sen. Nan Orrock, an Atlanta Democrat, suggested that those who voted for the bill would have blood on their hands because the legislation would “continue the bloody trail of people injured by gun violence here in our state and… were killed”.

The bill would eliminate the need for a license to carry a handgun in public – either openly or concealed on the body.

Georgia currently requires people to obtain a license to carry a loaded handgun outside of their own homes, businesses, or cars, although in many places people can carry rifles and shotguns without a license, and in cases carry unloaded weapons.

To obtain a gun license, state residents must submit an application and fee, and undergo fingerprinting in addition to a background check. Convicted felons and those who were hospitalized for mental health problems or treated for drugs or alcohol in the years prior to the application are not eligible.

Democratic Senator Michelle Au of Johns Creek proposed an amendment that would extend background checks to more gun sales, including those at gun fairs. Current requirements limit such inspections to transactions with state-licensed arms dealers. The amendment was also defeated by a vote of 34 to 22.

Also on Monday, a House Public Safety and Homeland Security Subcommittee passed House Bill 1358, its version of the Senate bill, with little debate.

The subcommittee also passed House Bill 1378, which would repeal Georgia’s statute against carrying guns in churches. Rep. Rick Jasperse, a Jasper Republican, said churches would be treated like other private owners, which means they would have to put up signs to prevent people from carrying guns and ask those with guns to leave . Violators could be charged with trespassing.

The measure would also allow probate judges to renew gun-carrying licenses online and by mail, and would allow people to sue if someone creates a cross-county database of people applying for gun-carrying licenses. It would require counties and cities to sell confiscated guns at least once a year and let people sue when they don’t. It would also prevent authorities from banning the sale of arms and ammunition during a state of emergency. Officials also could not close gun stores during an emergency unless they closed all stores.

Associated Press writer Jeff Amy contributed.