Carrying Handguns Without Permits In Georgia Inches Closer To Reality

ATLANTA, GA — A bill that would allow Georgia residents to carry handguns without a permit is inching closer to passage.

On Wednesday, the Georgia House passed Senate Bill 319, which would allow permitless carry in the state.

Georgia House lawmakers voted 100-67 to pass the constitutional carry bill, which now goes back to the Senate for immediate consideration.

If it passes, which is expected, it will go to Gov. Brian Kemp's desk for his signature.

Republican lawmakers, such as Sen. Chuck Payne of Dalton who support constitutional carry, argue that Georgians should have the right to easily protect themselves from crime without the red tape and costs associated with obtaining a gun permit.

Gun advocates also say that permits infringe on Second Amendment gun rights.

Payne recalled a camping trip in rural Georgia that he said required him to defend his family. He was glad to be armed but wonders how the situation could have turned out had he not had a permit.

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"It was just me and these four men, and in a place where cell phones have no reception. Merely making known that I was capable of protecting my wife and my children, they chose to depart and never returned through the night," Payne posted to his official Facebook page.

"Every parent should have such right to keep their family safe and from those who would do harm. The question I've always considered is what would have happened to the family that couldn't afford the great cost of purchasing a legal carry permit? Would my family have only become but a statistic and only a tragedy on the evening news?"

Currently, Georgians can apply for a weapons carry license (WCL) through their local probate court. Residents age 21 and up must fill out an application, pay a $75 license fee, be fingerprinted and submit to a background check.

Critics said, however, that the constitutional carry bill would eliminate much of the process and makes it easier for criminals to get guns.

"This bill will not make us safer. In fact, after we loosened common-sense gun restrictions in 2014, we witnessed a spike in gun deaths. It's terribly sad we are back, doing this again," Georgia Sen. Elena Parent (D) posted to Twitter.

"Over 5,200 people were denied a weapons carry license in 2020, mostly due to past criminal behavior. Why are the GOP claiming the elimination of this important gun safety measure will make GA safer? It will not," she also tweeted.

State Sen. Jason R. Anavitarte (R) argues that the law will keep safeguards in place to ensure only law-abiding citizens can purchase and obtain a firearm "while eliminating the bureaucratic red tape that infringes on Georgian's constitutional rights."

Kemp, who supports constitutional carry, is expected to sign the bill into law.

"It’s great to see so much support for the 2nd Amendment, as the General Assembly considers bills to uphold this fundamental right," Kemp tweeted earlier this month. "I am committed to working with both the Georgia House and Senate to get Constitutional Carry across the finish line!"