On Wednesday, April 23, 2014, Governor Nathan Deal signed the Safe Carry Protection Act known to many critics as the "Guns everywhere bill," a revision of House Bill 60. This new pro gun law, CNN reports, gives over 500,000 Georgians who are licensed to carry the right to bare arms in just about any public and private setting statewide which includes: airports, bars, churches, schools, and in limited areas of some government facilities at the discretion of that entity. Governor Deal stated that "This law gives added protections to those who have played by the rules and who can protect themselves and others from those who don't play by the rules," and called it "a great day to reaffirm our civil liberties." The Washington Post reported that the bill passed in both the House and Senate with sizable leads in March and about twice as many legislators in each chamber voted for it than against it. Governor Deal's office also pointed out that they've received an alarming amount of correspondences from citizens who were totally for the bill.
Critics of the bill argue that this new law basically gives just about anyone a license to kill, citing Florida's own infamous Stand Your Own Ground Law. I personally agree with most aspects of the law yet I know that it will be both a gift and a curse for many Georgians. For some odd reason, and I hate to think for the worst but it is what it is, I can see this scenario turning into a racially motivated battle when it comes to whites versus blacks. Believe it or not, we're still in ole "Dixie Land" a state that is no stranger to unjust lynchings and murders of minorities, especially African Americans. Under Georgia's Stand Your Own Ground law, both licensed carriers and convicted felons can now use self defense as grounds to use deadly force. At this point, I know that it must be scary for most black parents especially if they have a son who are hoping that someone won't see their child as a "threat" and maliciously invoke this type of law. This could also tremendously increase black on black crime as well. While looking at the picture of the governor and his colleagues above I'm wondering do these "good ole boys" have an ulterior motive. Isn't it ironic that suddenly after Trayvon Martin's murderer, George Zimmerman, got off free as a breeze, in Georgia's neighboring state of Florida, now legislators want to ease restrictions on our gun laws? We can't forget about the Michael Dunn trial where a Florida jury returned a mixed verdict in which the defendant was accused of killing a 17 year old African American male, during an argument over loud music at a gas station.
Georgia's Safe Carry Protection Act also poses a threat to law enforcement. Under the new law that is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2014, police officers are forbidden from asking someone to see their permit unless they're actually committing a crime; they can also be sued for each violation in which funds will come from taxpayers. Are you nervous yet? If not then you should be. Proponents of the law are ecstatic that their Second Amendment rights are no longer limited in the Peach state. Guns are now allowed in schools with prior written permission. Lawmakers have given churches the right to opt in or out of the law as well as bars. Firearms are now allowed in government buildings as long as the entry isn't restricted or screened by security which mirrors the same protocol for airports. Ironically, one of the few places where guns are totally banned is the state capitol. When Governor Deal was asked about this he stated that the capitol fell under a wider statewide provision that affects many government buildings and it's "a uniform carved-out area across our state."
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