Why Georgia’s Fight for Gun Rights Isn’t Over
Permitless carry was a win for individual liberty—removing the need to ask permission to exercise a right. But in practice here in Georgia, its biggest impact has been saving law-abiding gun owners about $5 a year and the trouble of getting a permit. That’s not nothing, but it pales in comparison to the need to address more serious restrictions—like the current bans on carrying in schools, colleges, churches, and courthouses.
GA2A supported the permitless carry measure, but we placed it lower on our priority list based on data. Why? Research showed that in other states, once permitless carry passed, efforts to remove restrictions on carry locations either stalled or even went backwards. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what we’re seeing play out here in Georgia.
What’s more concerning is the complacency that has followed. Many gun owners feel like the battle is over and have disengaged. Without active voices calling for continued reform, lawmakers have little reason to invest political capital in further advancing Second Amendment protections.
We must recognize two hard truths: Georgia is shifting politically, and Second Amendment supporters will increasingly find themselves on the defensive. Without a united and proactive movement, there’s a real risk of rolling back the progress we’ve made. Just 15 years ago, carrying a firearm in public in Georgia could land you in jail—something younger citizens may not even realize.
But GA2A isn’t resting. We’re announcing a new effort to have Georgia Weapons Carry License holders added to the 16-11-130 list. This is the list of those folks in Georgia who are exempt from nearly all of the off-limits carry locations. It’s a long list of special people, all the way from law enforcement officers to retired clerks from all sorts of city, county, and state offices. But it doesn’t include you, the ordinary Georgia citizen who wants to provide for your own protection. We aim to fix that.
And there’s so much more. Recently, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority asked for a special exemption so that it can restrict carrying, even at outdoor parks that it owns! The City of Savannah wants to tell you how to carry your gun in your car, and then make you a criminal if someone steals it. All around the state there are plenty of forces who continually work against your Second Amendment rights.
Now is the time to rally. Support the organizations doing real work, not just those making noise online. Contact your legislators—even the ones who don’t agree with us. Pressure and presence matter.
Let’s stand together and make sure our rights are preserved for the next generation.
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