Wednesday, the Georgia Governor signed into affect House Bill 89. This bill deals with several amendments and fixes to the Georgia codes regarding firearms, weapons, and citizens carrying firearms. The most noticeable change for normal law abiding citizens is the addition of sections 16-11-127e & f :
(e) A person licensed or permitted to carry a firearm by this part shall be permitted to carry such firearm, subject to the limitations of this part, in all parks, historic sites, and recreational areas, including all publicly owned buildings located in such parks, historic sites, and recreational areas and in wildlife management areas, notwithstanding Code Section 12-3-10, in wildlife management areas notwithstanding Code Section 27-3-1.1 and 27-3-6, and in public transportation notwithstanding Code Sections 16-12-122 through 16-12-127; provided, however, that a person shall not carry a firearm into a place prohibited by federal law. (f) A person licensed or permitted to carry a firearm by this part shall not consume alcoholic beverages in a restaurant or other eating establishment while carrying a firearm. Any person violating this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Meaning, a person who has a Georgia Carry License may bring a gun into parks, on marta, and into restaurants (where alcohol sales are less than 50% revenue) as long as the person is not drinking .... and I think it says somewhere else it has to also be carry concealed. Another section (very long worded) gives back more rights to a citizen wanting to keep a gun in a locked glove box of a privately owned car.
The recent youtube video "Soldier girl on the marta train"
came at a great time. Though that video shows only a bit of misdemeanor assault, much worse can happen in the confined spaces of a marta train. Also, before this amendment, criminals know a law abiding citizen isn't going to have a gun or knife on the train ... and won't have one after leaving a train station of getting off a bus. Now, a criminal has to think twice about approach someone on or near marta just for a few bucks in their wallet.
People are hootin and hallerin claiming this restoration of a second amendment right will bring all kinds of public endangerment and will be the downfall of society. Criminals already have the weapons on the train and buses. This just levels the playing field slightly and lets someone who is licensed to carry a gun to do their thing.
