Win any election, and win the right to pack hidden heat
With the Legislature in a weeklong recess, we have the opportunity to examine details of several bills that have escaped scrutiny.
A Gwinnett County reader pointed us to SB 102, another measure to redefine where concealed weaponry may and may not be carried in Georgia.
Loading ...The bill passed the Senate last month on a 41-11 vote, and now in House committee. Most significantly, the bill would permit those properly licensed to carry concealed handguns in churches, synagogues and mosques. Such sacred ground is currently off-limits.
But there was one amendment to SB 102, sponsored by state Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, that might have escaped everyone’s notice. The change was contained in a list of all those who are permitted to carry concealed without a permit: Police officers, district attorneys, judges, and such.
This language was added: “All persons holding elected state or local offices in this state not otherwise covered in this subsection.”
Win an election, and you would win the right to carry concealed in Georgia. Should that clause remain, it would apply to a small army of this state’s political elite – about 1,100 school board members, 800 county commissioners, and 3,200 mayors and council members.
Toss in members of the General Assembly and statewide elected officials and your troop strength stands at about 5,350.
There’s no guarantee that everyone would be shooting in the same direction, but it would make for some dynamite campaign slogans. “Jane Candidate: Armed and dangerous.” “Health care reform? Meet Joe Candidate’s little friend.”
Now, possibly this amendment – sponsors included the author of the bill – was a sincere reaction to the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-AZ., earlier this year.
But did you see this Sunday piece by my AJC colleague James Salzer? It’s about the way public pensions have been shielded from view. In part because, in the past, the state pension systems have awarded some embarrassing amounts to public officials.
You have to wonder if this amendment to SB 102 is yet another example of those who rule over us exempting themselves from the hoops they make the hoi polloi jump through. How can you judge whether your bureaucracy is efficient if you yourself aren’t subject to it?
If nothing else, we may want to add firing-range experience as a qualification for every political office in the state.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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82 comments Add your comment
Coastal Cavalier
April 4th, 2011
2:08 pm
The session could get by on 20 days if they worked on real issues instead of wasting time with their little pet deals to win friends in special interest groups. Forget so-called abortion reform, gun rights and the like and stick to the budget, transportation and education.
Mike
April 4th, 2011
2:15 pm
I hope they all shoot each other. They are useless.
flower power
April 4th, 2011
2:27 pm
Today, I enjoyed the displeasure of standing behind a girlie-man gun goon wearing a side-arm with a fancy holster at starbuck’s.
I Know You Are But What Am I
April 4th, 2011
2:29 pm
I’m still waiting for the lunatic paranoid fringe of the NRA right to somehow whine that this is absolutely necessary and the author is anti-gun.
td
April 4th, 2011
2:29 pm
I think every law abiding citizen should be allowed to carry a gun unrestricted but I do have a problem with this legislation. It is not right that the political elite does not have to go through the same permit process as the normal citizen (this includes off duty police and Judges). We should all have to go through the same process or we should all not have any process.
Tom
April 4th, 2011
2:36 pm
Love the poll, Jim. You bucking for Jeff Schultz’ gig? :>)
Why it's a Ruger, thank you
April 4th, 2011
2:38 pm
Jim, Jim, Jim….did mommy give you your bath this weekend? So now it’s time to play in and throw mud again? Tisk, tisk…keep pandering to your lib buddies. When YOU can get all the criminals off the streets for good and behind bars so that my family is safe every day, then you can spew that lib adgenda at me…but not before
Truth
April 4th, 2011
2:45 pm
“When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.”
Think about it.
All you liberal idealists keep living in your fantasy land. When it does hit the fan (New Orleans during Katrina) in your neighborhood and the land becomes lawless, don’t come to my house looking for protection!
Robert
April 4th, 2011
2:49 pm
This legislators are setting a ruling class. How disappointing. They wasted a great opportunity for true tax reform. Instead they just starting doling out favors (Gulfstream, Delta, …)
Rule .303
April 4th, 2011
2:51 pm
Jim, I’m pretty sure that sure Giffords is now a D and no longer an R.
yuzeyurbrane
April 4th, 2011
2:54 pm
Yahoo!!! Let ‘em gun it out on the floor of the legislature.
findog
April 4th, 2011
2:57 pm
Funniest thing I ever saw in the military was a new first sergeant who came from the Georgia Military Academy in Macon failing to qualify with his M-16 on the computer monitored [no cheating possible] Simpson Range at Fort Benning
Blow hard GDOT inspector reservist was the worst non-com ever, probably make a good politician
GaBlue
April 4th, 2011
2:57 pm
Hahaha! You gun nut NRA contributors who think we “libs” haven’t armed ourselves by now are cracking me up! I loathe guns. I hate the fact that innocent (born) childred die every day in this country because some azzholes had to have more guns. (”Talking and thinking is just too hard!” Blam! Blam!) I am sickened by the knowledge that so many neanderthal secessionist whacko haters are running around with loaded glocks just waiting for somebody to look at them funny. But I have also faced the reality of living in a state where people like that blame ME for all their problems because I voted for the black guy. I personally know a lot of Democrats in this state, and trust me, more of them have guns than do not. But keep on with the stereotypes, if that’s all you have!
This lib has seen the 2nd amendment light. Heh.. happy now? BTW, get the *bleep* off my lawn, you fascist freaks! Hahaha!
Kevin H
April 4th, 2011
2:58 pm
Two points:
1. You should have included our East Point City Council in the poll
2. More realistically to the bill…Elected officials do not necessarily get a photo ID showing that they are a Council Member or what have you, so when an officer finds someone carrying concealed without a permit, which will happen? (A) The Council Member will be hauled into jail until they can produce proof of election, or (B) James Hood can just claim to be elected and be let go.
ProgressivePeach
April 4th, 2011
3:20 pm
Thanks. I feel safer on the streets of Manhattan than I do living in Georgia.
foodfight
April 4th, 2011
3:22 pm
td you are dead on.
April 4th, 2011
3:23 pm
GaBlue <– Fruitcake.
April 4th, 2011
3:24 pm
“Today, I enjoyed the displeasure of standing behind a girlie-man gun goon wearing a side-arm with a fancy holster at starbuck’s”
You’re gay. That was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read.
Just Wait
April 4th, 2011
3:38 pm
You have to wonder of the mindset of people who equate more guns to more safety. If everyone has a gun, we are equal. Personally, I like the idea of being the one with a gun at a knife fight.
flower power
April 4th, 2011
3:39 pm
guns are for wimps
gatorman770
April 4th, 2011
3:44 pm
I agree with TD! Every law abiding citizen should be allowed to carry a gun unrestricted but I also have a problem with this legislation. It is not right that the political elite does not have to go through the same permit process as the normal citizen (this includes off duty police and Judges). We should all have to go through the same process (with the near $100 cost with no cost breaks for renewals, that the Georgia Legislator passed last year when they also screwed all the holders of wildlife and other specialty vehicle license tags that were originally sold with a one time fee) or we should all not have any process.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 4th, 2011
3:46 pm
so GaBlue, what caliber did you get? How many rounds have you put down the pipe, how tight are your clusters? inquiring minds want to know.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 4th, 2011
3:47 pm
@flower power..so what is YOUR personal protection weapon of choice?
Last Man Standing
April 4th, 2011
3:48 pm
ProgressivePeach:
Feel free to go to Manhattan whenever you choose and stay as long as you like. In fact, stay even longer!
I would avoid Sparks Steakhouse, though.
flower power
April 4th, 2011
3:48 pm
trish,
i don’t live in fear…
Einsteindawg
April 4th, 2011
3:49 pm
Will they have to check their guns at the Dome? (Lest they shoot themselves.)
flower power
April 4th, 2011
3:49 pm
gator,
too bad the wildlife can’t shoot back…
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 4th, 2011
3:51 pm
flower power, so you are special, unlike the 89,000 women raped per year in the USA? You are special unlike the 1.25 million people robbed per year in the USA? Hahaha
oh Me Oh My, stick a finger in a liberals eye..If something does happen to you, it would be so hard to not smirk and say I told ya so….I doubt I could hold it in.
Last Man Standing
April 4th, 2011
3:51 pm
flower power:
So how’s that anti-gun, PETA lifestyle working out for you?
To many Rednecks still here
April 4th, 2011
3:54 pm
Well, I never see the good side to more guns but maybe in this case the old adage, killed by “friendly fire”, might bring us some much needed irony at the Capital Building. I’m not sure why a room full of guys and gals that don’t do anything straight would want all their coworkers armed. Seems to me these guys aren’t smart enough to carry guns everywhere.
SCARY THOUGHT!!!! Under this law John Oxendine would have the right to carry concealed weapon. If that doesn’t scare you nothing will.
To many Rednecks still here
April 4th, 2011
3:55 pm
Correction: Oxendine WOULD have had the right. Thank to the good people of Georgia we are rid of the most unbalanced guy in Ga politics in a long time.
flower power
April 4th, 2011
3:56 pm
last man,
so far so good.
flower power
April 4th, 2011
3:57 pm
auburn sux
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 4th, 2011
3:59 pm
I assume everyone has a concealed weapon. People who have a disposition toward robbery, rape, and other various molestations of other peoples person or property, would be well advised to do the same. I love when victims kill attackers.
Congratulations to District Attorney Dan May, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kim Kitchen and defense lawyer Ann Kaufman for bringing a responsible resolution to a difficult case involving a girl who shot and killed a man charged with routinely raping her for three years, since she was 12 years old.
The girl, now age 16, pleaded guilty Monday to manslaughter for shooting Jon R. Hazard June 1. In return for her plea, the girl can expect a sentence of two years probation and mandatory counseling; no prison time.
Police said they found sexually explicit images of the girl on Hazard’s computer. Nine days before Hazard’s trial, the girl shot and killed him in Palmer Park.
Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/girl-97070-years-attorney.html#ixzz1IaPw21Tf
To many Rednecks still here
April 4th, 2011
4:01 pm
If gun fights are anything like life the guys who talk the most about returning fire or killing them first will not be able to be found due to them hugging the floor while peeing in their pants.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 4th, 2011
4:01 pm
@flower power
auburn sux..
That is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out comeback..you really should go into law or competitive oxford debate.
To many Rednecks still here
April 4th, 2011
4:04 pm
Is it me or does it seem the more a woman talks about the possibility of rape the more it has a direct correlation with how unattractive she is.
Greg
April 4th, 2011
4:04 pm
The amendment giving all elected Georgia officials an exemption from the need for a firearms license is dead. It was confirmed two weeks ago that the amendment would be stripped from the bill in the house.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 4th, 2011
4:06 pm
@to(o) many Rednecks still here..Is it just me or does it seem people like you probably go more for a hairy bear anyway?
Q: Why do so many ghetto men cry after sex?
A: the mace
flower power
April 4th, 2011
4:06 pm
trish,
why don’t you go shave your back….
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 4th, 2011
4:07 pm
flower power is no replacement for brain power, most obviously.
GaBlue
April 4th, 2011
4:07 pm
I apologize for being flip about a serious subject. Despite the irony of my “conversion,” there is no excuse for not being responsible if one chooses to own a gun. They are not pee-nis-es to be waved around and bragged about. Spend an afternoon at a range learning from someone who knows what they’re doing. Learn how to use it, and practice, practice, practice! Your piece should be something YOU can use comfortably and accurately, not something to impress others with at parties. Then lock it up safely away from curious children, testosterone-driven teens, burglars, and depressed relatives or friends. If a bullet you purchased ends up in an innocent person, YOU are a jerk and deserve no forgiveness…. EVER.
retiredds
April 4th, 2011
4:08 pm
td has it right. The political elite, in GA that’s Republicans folks, will ALWAYS vote themselves the best perks and privileges EVERY time they have the opportunity. I am happy that the Republicans have reached the super-majority status in GA because maybe many of the folks who voted for them thinking that the R’s were the party of the people are seeing the reality that the R’s have never been, never are, nor never will be the party for regular main street Georgians. They are the privileged class and will defend it to the hilt.
not a victim.
April 4th, 2011
4:16 pm
@flower – Who is more moral the woman lying in an alley raped and dead with her pantyhose wrapped around her neck or the woman explaining to the police how her attacker ended up with a couple of bullet holes in him?
atlnative
April 4th, 2011
4:17 pm
I want to know where’s Dexter King?Is he still living the “good life” on Pacific Coast Hwy.in Malibu,Ca.?
Just because
April 4th, 2011
4:19 pm
Some of the elected people could not pass the background check to get a conceled permit. They have to much on their record that the voters overlook.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 4th, 2011
4:25 pm
Funny you mention background checks..The retired head of the FBIs civilian clearance department has said publiclythat, were Imam Hussein not elected, he would most likely not qualify for civilian security clearances due to his ties to Ayers and Dohrn.
Gunn Smoker
April 4th, 2011
4:25 pm
I have mixed feelings about politicians voting to allow any elected offical to carry guns in places that regular citizens with a Georgia Weapons License (GWL) cannot. On one hand, why should they be given treated as special under the law? The only reason I can think of is that sometimes, some of them get death threats from crazies. But then, so do regular citizens, and all of us face the possibility of a crimial or crazy trying to kill us, even at church. In fact, historically churches have been especially targeted for acts of domestic terrorism. Why leave churches defenseless? Why declare that churches are gun-free victim disarmament zones where a killer can work in relative safety, unless the church happens to be big and rich enough to hire off-duty police officers as security guards?
Better idea: Let law-abiding citizens who have been background-checked and who have been issued a gun carry permit carry their guns pretty much everywhere they go, including church. There’s no logical reason to treat churches different from restaurants, shopping malls, office buildings, and other places where a citizen with a gun permit can legally carry.
flower power
April 4th, 2011
4:26 pm
not a victim,
nice visual. i bet your scared of your shadow.
flower power
April 4th, 2011
4:30 pm
i’m sure most of you gun goons/goonettes are born-again, why doesn’t your precious jesus protect you from the boogeyman.