2023 GA2A Legislative Agenda

The 2022 Legislative Session was a banner year for gun owners and 2nd Amendment backers in Georgia. With the passage of SB319, better known as Constitutional Carry, Georgia became the 25th state in the country to allow law-abiding citizens to exercise their rights by carrying a concealed firearm without a permit.

While energized and encouraged by the progress made under the Gold Dome, legislative action is still needed to Shield the 2nd in Georgia.

Click HERE to download a summary of GA2A’s 2023 Legislative Agenda.

Click HERE to download additional details of GA2A’s 2023 Legislative Agenda.

Click HERE to track legislation during the 2023 Legislative Session.

Shield the 2nd

During the 2023 Legislative Session, GA2A will strongly advocate for the following:

Lower the Minimum Age for a GWL

We trust eighteen-year-old Georgians to vote and defend freedom in the United States military, yet they do not qualify to obtain a Georgia Weapons License (GWL). GA2A backs legislation to lower the minimum age from 21 to 18.

Update State Militia Requirements

The requirements to join Georgia’s State Militia are antiquated and should be updated so more law-abiding Georgians – no matter their age or gender – are allowed to join with the appropriate training and credentials.

Protecting Places of Worship

Houses of worship are targets of criminals and a disarmed congregation is a recipe for disaster. Georgia Code should be updated to allow churches to “opt-out” as a place that allows concealed carry rather than forcing faith leaders to “opt-in.”

Courthouse Definition Updated to Only Include Superior Court

The definition of “Courthouse” within Code Section 16-11-127 should only include the portion of a building occupied by judicial Superior Courts and containing rooms in which judicial Superior Court proceedings are held.

Auction of Seized Weapons

GA2A will pursue legislation that allows for seized firearms to be auctioned for profit by local law enforcement to qualified gun owners in a timely manner.

Clarify “Campus Carry”

By clarifying the legal description of firearms and weapons that can be carried on campuses, we can remove unnecessary and duplicative restrictions on where and what type of weapons or teaching aides can be possessed by law abiding citizens.

Add Statutory Damages for Failure to Issue GWL to Eligible Applicant

To cover the cost of attorney’s fees, travel, and/or loss of income, GA2A seeks to update Code section 16-11.129(j) by adding statutory damages for failure to issue a GWL to an eligible applicant. an applicant that proves his eligibility shall be entitled to actual damages or $100, whichever is greater.

Protect the 2nd Amendment in Emergencies

Legally purchasing and lawfully collecting firearms should never be restricted. GA2A will seek legislative protections to prevent the Georgia state and local governments from closing gun stores in the event of an emergency.

Immunity for Private Property Owners

A private property owner that does not restrict the lawful possession of weapons on their property should be immune from civil liability for claims arising out of a theory that the owner should have or could have restricted the lawful possession of weapons.

Strict Liability for Stolen Guns

A governmental entity operating a courthouse or government building in which weapons are restricted should provide on-site storage of weapons for lawful weapons carriers. If a governmental entity declines to provide such storage, such a governmental entity should be strictly liable to lawful weapons carriers whose weapons are stolen from their cars while such lawful weapons carriers are in the courthouse or government building.

Discharge On Private Property

To protect private property owners and safeguard the 2nd Amendment from government overreach, GA2A is championing legislation that prohibits local entities from banning the discharge of a weapon on private property that’s ten acres or more.

Update Qualifications, Streamline Process for Georgia Weapons License

To make GWLs more accessible, GA2A will push for legislation that will establish a state standard for obtaining a GWL, guarantee that anyone who meets these standards receives a GWL without delay, remove redundancy and confusion on GWL qualifications, streamline the state’s GWL revocation process for probate judges, and prevent multijurisdictional GWL databases used to track firearm owners.

Restore Common Law definition of assault

Georgia’s definition of assault includes a subjective litmus test where the victim determines if the accused committed an “act that puts another in reasonable apprehension of immediately receiving a violent injury.” This language unfairly targets those who exercise their 2nd Amendment Rights by carrying a firearm.

GA2A is advocating for the Common Law definition of assault to be restored so intention – rather than perception – will determine the accused’s charges, verdict, and sentencing.

Through GA2A’s “Shield The 2nd” legislative agenda, we can ensure that the rights of Georgia gun owners are protected and our constitutional rights as Americans are reflected in Georgia law.

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