Campus Carry is Coming to Georgia

On By Tom LindsayIn Campus Carry, Gun Free Zones1 Comment

GSU

The Georgia Senate today passed HB859, by a vote of 37 to 17. Already passed by the Georgia House, the bill goes to the desk of Governor Nathan Deal, who has already said he will sign it. And when he does, God willing, I will be there.

This bill allows concealed carry of handguns by licensed permit holders on college campuses,  except in dorms, sorority or fraternity houses, and at sporting events.

Any reader of this blog knows my views on Gun Free Victim Zones. And this does away with one such zone.

Thanks go to GeorgiaCarry.org for leading the fight.

Range Officer’s Nightmares

On By Tom LindsayIn Range Officer3 Comments

Proof that as an RO, you need to have your head up and in the act always.

A collection of runs that would make the RO crap their pants . . .

 

I plan to keep my eye out for these and add as I find them. Send yours to me, please.

Georgia Campus Carry Update

On By Tom LindsayIn Campus Carry, Gun Free Zones, Self Defense

14-0070 Welcome Signage with students in front of AYSPS.

Currently, schools and college campuses in Georgia are Gun Free Victim Zones – areas where criminals know they are free to bring guns unopposed, and rob or kill their victims with no fear of armed opposition.

Yesterday, the Georgia House of Representatives moved one step closer to eliminating schools and colleges from the realm of Gun Free Victim Zones, by passing HB859, by a vote of 113 to 59. This bill would allow carry of concealed handguns on school campuses in the state, by those with a Georgia Weapons Carry License (GWCL).

Some notable points of this law, that seem to make the law more acceptable to a wider range of legislators, while still maintaining the central purpose of the bill:

Guns are allowed to be carried everywhere on campus except at sporting events, and in dormitories, fraternity houses, and sorority houses. To me, as a father with a son living in a dorm at Georgia State, I’m okay with that. This reduces the possibility of accidents resulting from guns being handled by unlicensed students. After a recent string of armed robberies on campus, this hits home.

Guns must be concealed. Concealment is further defined in the law, and it is worth noting that it includes requirements that the handgun is “substantially, but not necessarily completely, covered by an article of clothing.” To me this avoids the possibility of unintentionally allowing one’s gun to be seen, thus inviting charges of “brandishing.”

To me, these points in no way reduce the real effect of this bill. Criminals will have no way to know whether the person they intend to rob or attack is armed. So, they move on.

I did note, though, that handguns are the only weapons allowed under the bill. This eliminates knives with blades over 5 inches, which are also considered weapons under Georgia law, and the carry of which required a GWCL. I’m not sure why this is in there, but I am looking into it.

I applaud the Georgia Legislature on this move, and I look forward to the Senate’s passage, and the Governor’s signature.

“Gun Safety’s” Strategy, One More Time

On By Tom LindsayIn Gun Control, Gun Rights, RKBA1 Comment

ConfiscationYesterday, the Poser In Chief, to much fanfare, announced another round of (redundant) Gun Control Safety initiatives, designed to keep him from having to forcea tear or national television.

Nothing he announced is new, and nothing he announced would have prevented the attacks on Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, or Paris.

So, I just wanted to remind everyone, once again, what the real end game is.

The Government is going to eventually expand background checks to nominally include all sales, even those between private individuals. This will likely happen because some much publicized event will happen, and it will be found that the gun was bought from a private seller (better, at a gun show) by someone who was otherwise prohibited from owning a gun. Never mind that what they did was already against the law, there will be a loud call for Universal Background Checks, and it will happen.

In the wording of the new law (or Executive Order or ATF sub-rule, it doesn’t matter) this will apply to all  “transfers,” which the average person will understand to mean a sale, and which will also be explained to mean a gift or an inheritance.

But then the ATF will, suddenly and dramatically, remind us that handing the gun to a friend at the shooting range is, in fact a transfer. And both parties are then arrested and convicted dramatically, and stripped of all future rights as convicted felons.

There will suddenly be a police presence at gun ranges, to prevent these horrible crimes. This will go on, dramatically, for one or two years. But the overall number of gun crimes will not correspondingly decline. Now, it may decline in fact, but the media will make sure that is not apparent.

Then, eventually, the Antis will make the announcement that, since these simple Common Sense Gun Safety changes have made no difference, it must be because the Ebil Militia is still getting guns.

And some Horrible Tragedy will occur (the more children involved, the better, in their eyes) and there will be a clamor for Confiscation.

And our once supportive members of congress will cave. And they will call for confiscation.

The Second Amendment may or may not be repealed, but, for all intents and purposes, this will be the end of freedom as we know it.

At that time, it will be up to us gun owners to decide which side we are on. It won’t be a time for slogans or protests or social media.

I have already decided.

And I pray every day that I am wrong.