Guns in Georgia restaurants...

[todd-45]

The state has changed the concealed carry laws in the state of Ga. Up till now we could not carry into a restaurant that sold alcohol for consumption on premises. Now we can carry into those restaurants as long as we do not consume. Gov. Perdue assumed that ruling will be appealed.
On another area of the law, it states that we cannot carry to Church or a Church function. I've never had anyone explain why. Does anyone know? I've heard of a couple instances over the past 4-5 years where a Church has been robbed during service for the tithes and offerings. Wouldn't it be nice if we could protect ourselves even during worship?

 

[MIL-DOT]

In asking this question you're assuming a degree of rational thought that doesn't exist. They don't want to ban guns at "church" or at 'the mall", they want to ban them everywhere. So anywhere they can ban them,or KEEP them banned, suits their purposes.

 

[misANTHrope]

I sure wish this stuff would infect across the border into TN. Unfortunately, I'm not optimistic about the chances so long as Darth Naifeh remains in the House Speaker seat.

 

[Neener Neener]

I wouldn't be surprised if that falls under the "public gathering" clause.

 

[El Tejon]

No guns in church? No self-defense for faithful Christians?

Has anyone asked the Gov. of GA why he hates Christians so?

 

[ctdonath]

To grossly simplify the history (thorough analysis at georgiacarry.org):

In GA after the Civil War, a large armed group of blacks & Republicans protested the expulsion from office of duly-elected black legislators. Long story short, a law was passed forbidding arms possession at "public gatherings" precisely to keep such situations from happening again. (Subsequent prohibitions also were rooted in disarming blacks.)

The "public gathering" clause, being so vague and implemented for nefarious purposes, has been variously "clarified" into ever-expanding application (going so far as one judge deeming two people standing in line at a water fountain as constituting a "public gathering"). More notable/obvious ones, such as political rallies, sporting events, and religious gatherings have been encoded into law as prime (though not exclusive) examples.

Augmenting that, there are many people - our current governor apparently among them - who hold to the common notion of "a church is not a suitable place for one to carry arms". Such venues having been swept into the catch-all "public gathering" clause, explicitly removing them from such a prohibition becomes a "third-rail" issue which the general public impulsively opposes and which no politician wants to risk losing his career over.

The fact that a regularly scheduled event at a landmark open-access venue frequently involves literally piles of money openly sitting on silver platters surprisingly still does not stir sheeple's sense that perhaps some personal & organizational security should be legal therein.

 

[ctdonath]

Has anyone asked the Gov. of GA why he hates Christians so?

He is one.
There are a great many who simply think it improper to take weapons into a house of worship.
I've had a pastor promote this view from the pulpit - while staring at me.
It's a "third-rail" issue - most sheeple find such a notion revolting, even if it is emmenently practical & moral.

 

[Tom Servo]

Perdue is a devout Christian, to the point that what he thinks is absolutely right and must be forced upon others. He doesn't think guns have a place in church, so he would have vetoed any bill that had a church carry provision.

The assembly didn't have enough votes to override a veto, so church carry got dropped. Frankly, I was surprised the man signed HB 89 at all.

Oh, and everyone please be aware that the bill does not go into effect until July 1st.

 

[El Tejon]

He doesn't think guns have a place in church, so he would have vetoed any bill that had a church carry provision.

I find this incredible and can say nothing high road to say about this. However, thanks for the update. Sometimes I forget how good we have it up here.

 

[todd-45]

I thought it went into effect when the governor signed it. I guess not though.

 

[Tom Servo]

Nope. Legislation doesn't go into effect until July 1st.

I REALLY hope nobody's going to learn this the hard way. Local media (who have gone into hysterics over it) were reporting it as such, and I've had to post flyers in the shop reminding folks about it.

The general impression was that it went into effect immediately, and I stopped a few folks from carrying into their local restaurant that night

 

[ctdonath]

Got a link to the July 1 reference? I'm also hearing June 1.

 

[ronwill]

In order to more understand the archaic firearms laws here you must look back at Georgia history. Many of these laws were placed into effect to try and control newly freed slaves. No guns at public gatherings or in church meant they could be shot or arrested for doing so. While HB 89 (which doesn't become law until July 1st) makes many badly needed changes, there is much more work to be done. One organization that is working hard on these changes is georgiacarry.org and they deserve support.

 

[Tom Servo]

Got a link to the July 1 reference? I'm also hearing June 1.

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/sum/hb89.htm

Towards the bottom, listed as "effective date." All legislation passed in Georgia goes into effect on July 1st of that year.

 

[MIL-DOT]

(QUOTE) "Perdue is a devout Christian, to the point that what he thinks is absolutely right and must be forced upon others".

Why is it this character is so frequently attributed only to Christians ? This country was not only founded by "devout Christians", it was founded specifically for them ( really, go look it up). Yet those same narrow minded souls somehow decided, in a fit of almost unprecedented vision,to allow the existence of competing views. If you want to see views being "forced on others", you need look no further than the contemporary leftist, politically correct,multi-cultural, "tolerance" oriented crapola being forced on us by our schools,corporations and certain special interest groups. It ain't the Christians out there trying to take our guns away,now is it?