Senate Passes SB 98 – Expanding the Locations Where Licensed Gun owners Can Carry Their Weapons

Georgia law lists several specific locations where guns are not allowed. Georgia law also allows individuals to apply for a permit to carry a concealed weapon, provided that person has met the appropriate criteria.

Under current law, however, a person who has taken the appropriate steps and is legally allowed to carry a concealed firearm is still restricted by state law from carrying that weapon in certain areas. This is after that person has submitted to fingerprinting and stringent background checks to ensure he or she is trustworthy enough to carry a concealed firearm.

SB 98, passed by the Senate today in a 43-10 vote, allows licensed gun owners to carry their weapon anywhere except in courtrooms (or beyond the security checkpoint of a courthouse), prisons and jails, county or municipal government buildings (unless the local governing authority allows firearms), on the premises of a nuclear power plant or on the premises of a state mental health facility.

“It just makes no sense to me that someone who is licensed and legally allowed to carry a gun could not carry one into a restaurant, into a church or to a political event – all of which are currently prohibited by law,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Barry Loudermilk (R-Cassville). “Senate Bill 98 does not change private property laws. If property owners or business owners say ‘no guns,’ it is left up to them. This bill makes the law simpler and gets the government out of decisions that should be left to the discretion of the property owners and to the discretion of the licensed gun owner.”

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Sen. Barry Loudermilk represents the 52nd Senate District which includes Floyd County and portions of Bartow and Gordon counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0034 or by e-mail at barry.loudermilk@senate.ga.gov.