It would also mean that Georgia would no longer have a preemption law, keeping cities and counties from regulating the carry and possession of firearms, and would no longer regulate felons' possession of firearms or the possession of machine guns, silencers, and short barreled shotguns, although such items would still be the subject of extensive and burdensome federal laws.
In summary, HB 873 would repeal every Code section from 16-11-101 through 16-11-173. The bill offers to replace these Code sections with nothing.
Analysis: Rep. Franklin has been way out in front of right to bear arms legislation in Georgia. He introduced a bill to decriminalize carry in restaurants long before HB 89 became law, and he has introduced in previous sessions Alaska/Vermont-style concealed carry bills seeking to mimic the law in those two states that does not require a license for concealed carry. These bills seem to fit with his extremely principled view of constitutional rights.
For example, Rep. Franklin recently introduced a bill to repeal Georgia driver's licenses, as an infringement on the right to travel freely, and two bills seeking to enforce the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution against the federal government.
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HB 873 will not, however, accomplish its laudable purpose, stated in the legislative findings of fact:
(1) Our founding fathers, in the unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, acknowledged that the purpose of civil government is to secure God-given rights;
(2) As such, civil governments are to punish the criminal acts that deprive their citizens of their God-given rights to life, liberty, and property;
(3) The mere potential to deprive someone of life, liberty, or property should never be considered a crime in a free and just society;
(4) Evil resides in the heart of the individual, not in material objects; and
(5) Since objects or “instrumentalities” in and of themselves are not dangerous or evil, in a free and just society, the civil government should not ban or restrict their possession or use. Read more
Source: Atlanta Gun Rights Examiner
