Help Move Georgia Forward
Republican Candidates Continue “Messy” and “Combustible” Primary by Arguing Over Who Has Made Georgia Less Safe
As Brian Kemp announces a plan for Tuesday to sign into law SB 319 – “criminal carry” legislation that allows criminals to carry a hidden, loaded gun in public without a permit or its background check process – David Perdue is claiming credit for the dangerous bill. Running with the endorsement of Donald Trump in the brutal GOP primary, Perdue told Fox News on Tuesday that it wasn’t until he got into the race against Kemp that the legislation was filed, adding that the initiative was “going nowhere” without his efforts.
“Kemp and Perdue have proven they’re willing to risk Georgians’ lives and ignore the will of voters to cater to special interests, extremists, and the MAGA base as they campaign for our state’s highest office. Take it from Trump-endorsed Perdue himself — without his challenge, Kemp never could have passed such dangerous legislation that threatens public safety and is causing major concerns among law enforcement officers. The current governor should invite Perdue to the bill signing ceremony, or at least save him a pen, so voters know both are responsible for a law that will lead to more guns on our streets and more gun violence in our communities,” stated Max Flugrath, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Georgia.
The extreme measure has caused major concern among law enforcement, is opposed by 70% of Georgians, and is featured in DPG’s new TV ad.
BACKGROUND ON PERMIT-LESS CARRY:
Opposed by Law Enforcement: Permit-less carry has caused major concern among Georgia law enforcement, including in Savannah, Macon, and Columbus, who warn that “it would probably cause an increase in gun crimes” and put law enforcement officials in “uncharted waters.” The initiative has also faced opposition from law enforcement officers across the nation in Alabama, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
New Loophole: The extreme permit-less carry bill would create a new loophole by eliminating part of the background check process which anyone wanting to carry a concealed firearm currently must undergo. This legislation’s change would allow individuals with a criminal history who purchased a gun through a private sale – which is not subject to a background check – to now legally carry a weapon in our communities without any background check. The existing permit process prevented over 5,200 applicants from obtaining firearm carry licenses in 2020 — the majority of those denials were due to prior criminal records, outstanding arrests, mental health flags, or domestic violence charges.
Proven Danger: States that have weakened their firearm permitting system saw up to a 15% increase in violent crime. Georgia already has the 17th highest rate of gun deaths in the nation, and its rate of gun deaths increased 41% from 2009 to 2020.
Majority Opposition: About 70% of Georgians are opposed to permit-less carry. Over 80% of gun owners, non-gun owners, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents across the nation agree that high safety standards are crucial in issuing concealed carry permits:
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