Georgia House Rules committee killing all pro gun legislation

[davidkerr]

Good morning fellow Georgia shooters.
It is imperative that you act on the following email I received this morning from Georgia Gun Owners.
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SB 396 Forges Ahead on Tiebreaker



(Atlanta, March 22) -- We predicted it was too close to call, but calls and e-mails from gun owners powered SB 396 over a crucial hurdle yesterday.



The SB 396 Stand Your Ground bill by Sen. Greg Goggans (R-Douglas) won approval by the House Judiciary (Non-Civil) Committee in a grueling meeting marked by infighting.



The key vote came on a "weakening" amendment pushed by suburban compromiser Rep. Robert Mumford (R-Conyers) who voted with the anti-gunners. After Chairman David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) broke a 7-7 tie to shoot down Mr. Mumford's attempt at sabotage, the opposition started falling apart.



The good news is: SB 396 advances to the House Rules Committee to await scheduling for a vote by the full House.



The bad news is: every pro-gun bill that's reached the House Rules Committee this year has died there.



HB 998, the Parking Lot gun bill, by Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ranger), dead in Rules;

HB 1001 "Right to Carry" in the Car, by Rep. Burke Day (R-Tybee Island), dead in Rules;

HB 1439 Emergency Gun Confiscation Repeal by Rep. Bobby Franklin (R-Marietta), dead in Rules.



The Georgia House is ridden with suburban compromisers: politicians who claim they're pro-gun but are working behind the scenes against your gun rights. The House Rules Committee is their main line of defense.



But there's a weakness: House Rules Committee Chairman Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs) has the power to make or break any bill. He lives in a pro-gun district where the voters are much like you. If you flood his office with calls and e-mails demanding action on SB 396, he'll push it on out of Rules to escape blame for killing it while the spotlight is on him.



"We adjusted the game plan before and it worked," said GGO lobbyist George Hills. "Now we have to clear the benches. If you got an earlier alert and sat on the sidelines, it's time to jump in. We need everybody to get on the field."



If you're in a hurry, skip down to Mr. Ehrhart's office contact information below.



For more details on yesterday's remarkable proceedings in the House Judiciary (Non-Civil) Committee, go to:



www.georgiagun.org/SB396A5.php



Please forward a copy of this e-mail to three (3) people you know who own guns.

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Action Items:



1. Contact the office of House Rules Chairman Earl Ehrhart and tell his staff you want a vote scheduled on SB 396 without delay. Use your own wording or work off the pre-written message below. Deliver it by e-mail (anytime) or phone his Capitol office at 404-656-5141 (8 am to 5 pm).



Cut'n'Send

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Dear Rep. Ehrhart,



I'm shocked the House Republicans killed the pro-gun bills in Rules. It looks like you're no better than the Democrats were.



Please schedule SB 396 for a vote by the full House right away. The people have a right to know how their Representatives stand.



Sincerely, ______________
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PLEASE call or email or fax today.

The Honorable Earl Ehrhart
Contact Representative Ehrhart

at the Capitol...
Room HM-1 State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

404.656.5141
404.463.2600 fax

Staff: Sheila Raney

in the district...
5500 Wright Road
Powder Springs, Georgia 30127

770.437.7536 - Office
770.943.8568 - Home
770.437.2601 - Fax

Occupation: Businessman
Birthdate: August 8

mailto:[email protected]

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Shoot straight and accurate,
David Kerr
[email protected]

 

[neoncowboy]

I just called to ask them to let it out of committee for a vote! Sheila told me SB396 was voted out of committee for a floor vote tomorrow!

Not like this is a repeal of the stupid 'public gathering' provision in our CCW law...but it's a good start anyway.

It's been bugging me to hear WSB-AM news describe this as 'shoot first' legislation. As if codifying the right to self defense somehow makes it legal to just start shooting people

Anyway, great job for the rules committee!

 

[LAR-15]

Good deal.

My brother lives in GA.

 

[Wiley]

Georgia SB396 is on the House General Calendar for today (3-24-06) meaning it will be debated/vote on by the full House.

If it passes it will go to the Govenor for signature.

There is still time for all us Georgians to email or call our Reps.

On a personal note, I hope y'all have been communicating with your Reps on this issue to establish a somewhat personal relationship with them. It will pay dividends next year when other bills that are more important (such as eliminating the 'public gathering' silliness) comes up.

If you have been, send another note thanking them for their support.

 

[davidkerr]

SB 396 moves to house today for a vote (URGENT)

Hello Again fellow shooters,
Things are moving really fast. It is very difficult to keep up with the progress and keep a job at the same time. We need one more rush of calls and emails to get this through. Here is the followup email I received this morning:


SB 396 before Full House Fri. Mar. 24



(Atlanta, March 23) -- Your response to last night's alert was AWESOME! The fight in the House Rules Committee was over before it started.



At 8:00 am the phones started ringing off the hook in the office of Rules Chairman Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs). At 9:30 am, Mr. Ehrhart waved the white flag and announced he would send SB 396 to the floor of the House for a final showdown tomorrow Fri. Mar. 24.



But the Rules Chairman still had an ace to play--one he hoped you wouldn't catch. He set the rule for debate to let suburban compromisers and anti-gunners offer amendments to SB 396 from the floor.



So the people working against your self-defense rights will get a last-ditch chance to torpedo SB 396. They're desperate to pass any amendment so the bill will go back to the Senate for agreement, where they hope it will get caught up in the crush of last-minute legislation next week and die.



That's why it's crucial you contact your own state Rep. immediately and ask him or her to vote for SB 396 with NO AMENDMENTS.



If you're in a hurry, please jump to the action items below.



The Georgia House meets Fri. Mar. 24 at 9:00 am. This is the final showdown. If SB 396 passes the House without amendment, it goes directly to the Governor's desk to be signed into law.



Please forward a copy of this e-mail right away to three (3) gun owners you know.



If you're just joining the battle, go to the GGO website for more information:



www.georgiagun.org



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ACTION ITEMS



1. Contact your own state Rep. immediately and ask them to VOTE FOR SB 396 with NO AMENDMENTS. Use your own wording or work off the pre-written message below. Deliver it by e-mail (anytime) or phone their office (8 am to 5 pm). The House is working late tonight, so your best bet is to send it by e-mail since many Reps. read it while sitting at their desk in the chamber.



a) if you know your state House District number, get the name of your state Rep. at:



http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/house/05district.htm



b) if you know the name of your state Rep., get contact information via the "fact sheet" link at:



http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/house/05alpha.htm



c) if you don't know either (a) or (b), look on your voter registration card or call the voter registration office in your county.



Cut'n'Send

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Dear Rep. ______________



Opponents claim people don't need the "stand your ground" bill because it's already case law. Then there shouldn't be any objection to making it a statute so activist judges can't undo it.



Prosecutors from anti-gun districts have no fear of losing their jobs if they persecute victims for defending their lives with a gun. Honest people deserve the protection of "immunity from prosecution" if they have to shoot a criminal trying to kill or do them great bodily harm.



Criminals and their accomplices shouldn't be able to sue for damages if they're hurt while committing a crime.



The language in SB 396 is quite clear. Please vote for it with NO AMENDMENTS.



Sincerely, ______________



Good Shooting,
David Kerr
[email protected]

 

[neoncowboy]

What happened?

I watched a little of the GA live webcast today.

Did they vote?

 

[Wiley]

They voted, IT PASSED!!!

The vote totals have not been posted on the legislature site as yet. If you check tomorrow they sould be up. I suspect it will be a mostly partisan split.

Write Gov. Sonny to sign it ASAP. He might try to veto, but doubtful.

 

[makanut]

As a resident of da ATL, I'm really thankful it passed. Does this bill protect victims of a lethal assault from Civil as well as criminal prosecution? You know, trial lawyers have to make a living too.

 

[Wiley]

SB396 (DO READ THE REFERENCED CODE SECTIONS FOR PROPER APPLICATION!!!)

(Note: Weapons are not mentioned in the bill. The anti's couldn't get passed that and looked stupider than they normaly do. )
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AS PASSED SENATE

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to justification and excuse as a defense to certain crimes, so as to provide that a person who is attacked has no duty to retreat; to provide that such person has a right to meet force with force, including deadly force; to provide for civil immunity; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to defense to tort actions, so as to provide for civil immunity; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.
Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to justification and excuse as a defense to certain crimes, is amended by inserting immediately following Code Section 16-3-23 a new Code section to read as follows:
"16-3-23.1.
A person who uses threats or force in accordance with Code Section 16-3-21, relating to the use of force in defense of self or others, Code Section 16-3-23, relating to the use of force in defense of a habitation, or Code Section 16-3-24, relating to the use of force in defense of property other than a habitation, has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and use force as provided in said Code sections, including deadly force."

SECTION 2.
Said article is further amended by striking in its entirety Code Section 16-3-24.2, relating to immunity from prosecution and exception, and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"16-3-24.2.
A person who uses threats or force in accordance with Code Section 16-3-21, 16-3-23, 16-3-23.1, or 16-3-24 shall be immune from criminal prosecution therefor unless any deadly force used by in the use of deadly force, such person utilizes a weapon the carrying or possession of which is unlawful by such person under Part 2 or 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of this title."


SECTION 3.
Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to defense to tort actions, is amended by striking in its entirety Code Section 51-11-9, relating to immunity from civil liability for threat or use of force in defense of a habitation, and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
"51-11-9.
A person who is justified in threatening or using force against another under the provisions of Code Section 16-3-21, relating to the use of force in defense of self or others, Code Section 16-3-23, relating to the use of force in defense of a habitation, or Code Section 16-3-24, relating to the use of force in defense of property other than a habitation, has no duty to retreat from the use of such force and shall not be held liable to the person against whom the use of force was justified or to any person acting as an accomplice or assistant to such person in any civil action brought as a result of the threat or use of such force."

SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
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Unless Gov. Sonny vetos it will take effect July 1.

 

[neoncowboy]

and shall not be held liable to the person against whom the use of force was justified or to any person acting as an accomplice or assistant to such person in any civil action brought as a result of the threat or use of such force.

Wow! I missed that until now! This is FANTASTIC!

Unless Gov. Sonny vetos it will take effect July 1.

I doubt that'll happen...

I can't wait to make my list of how the reps voted on this one.

THANKS!

 

[Wiley]

GA SB396 vote posted here: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/votes/hv0989.htm

Also for Georgians: http://www.georgiapacking.org/

 

[James T Thomas]

here, hear!

The legislative use of committees and rules boards is a facist like method of bypassing government of the people, by the people and for the people.

All these methods were excused as being a method to handle all the volumes of proposed legislation that had to be voted on by call or paper ballot even.

Welcome to the twentyfirst century! With virtually every legislature, national and state now availing itself of computer managed, instantaneous voting, there is no legitimate reason why bills cannot or should not be voted on according to their own merit. Pass or fail. On the "floor," not in some back room.
The ones passing that turn out later to be a mistake, can, by the same electronic -instant process be corrected.
Democracy, the republic form of government.

Away with committees and boards and forward with freedom!

My apologies to those representatives and senators who will have extraspecial powers, prestige, and authority removed so that they become just plain old public servants.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Why hasn't the GA house and senate made the necessary changes to the Georgia Firearms License to allow it to be used in lieu of NICS? Is any progress being made on that?

 

[makanut]

This effectively prohibits civil action after the justified (lawful) use of deadly force. Maybe I just don't understand liberals, but why would anyone be against this?

 

[CAnnoneer]

Maybe I just don't understand liberals, but why would anyone be against this?

Pressure. Harassment. Many people who would otherwise carry, get dissuaded by the possibility of expensive legal hassles even if they do get cleared of any criminal doing. The leftists are evil little conniving bitches that would stoop to any dirty trick to further their social-engineering agenda.

 

[davidkerr]

Please contact the Governor

Good Morning fellow Shooters,

Everyone please contact the Governor and ask him to sign SB396. Don't just assume he will sign it. Let him hear the voice of law abiding gun owners in Georgia. I was apathetic until I heard that the House rules committee was killing all pro gun legislation. No more.

http://www.gov.state.ga.us/contact_dom.shtml

We will have to fight next year to get the legislation the House Rules committee killed passed.

 

[makanut]

I just sent Governor Purdue a message. I'm not assuming he will sign SB 396. This is probably more about tort reform than about guns. I'm more worried about assault lawyers than assault weapons.