In the United States and Georgia government, addressing gun use has become a hot topic.
On Jan. 5, Barack Obama introduced 23 executive actions on gun control, and he focused on the underlying reasons behind gun violence, such as mental health, barriers for the background check system and safety standards. General Assembly state legislators have also authored two new bills aimed at curbing gun violence.
Gun Purchase Restrictions Bill
Senate Bill 250 (SB 250) would deem people dangerous if going through divorce and with a history of violence, rendering them unable to purchase a gun.
State Sen. Michael Rhett, sole sponsor of the bill, said the legislation offers insight on the issue of domestic violence, aiming to protect those feeling threatened in a relationship.
Rhett also said domestic violence is an issue he has often dealt with in the past, and the inspiration for the bill came from one of his colleagues, April Ross, who was left paralyzed after an abusive relationship.
“Domestic violence is the secret your next door neighbour won’t tell you until it’s too late,” he said. “I felt I had to enforce this bill and try to find intervention to help that person find the help they need.”
Rhett said the bill wouldn’t infringe upon rights and prohibition of arms would only apply to people who have histories of domestic violence, a restraining order or are diagnosed with a mental illness.
Under the new legislation, Rhett said judges would decide if individuals going through divorce are in suitable mental health to carry a gun. If not, individuals would undergo an evaluation period, which depending on their actions and behaviour would deem them suitable to get a gun.
“The judge would grant a cooling-off period, until they can demonstrate they have not caused any problems and successfully pass a psyche evaluation,” he said.
Firearm Safety Training Bill
The second bill, House Bill 709 (HB 709), was introduced by State Rep. Keisha Waites and calls for firearm safety training. The bill would require anyone who applies for a firearm to have certification proving their attendance at a handgun safety course.
“Having the capacity to carry your weapon is your constitutional right,” she said. “But it comes with a certain authority and responsibility, and if you want that responsibility, you should want the education on how to use your weapon.”
Waites said such a course would create a safer environment by preventing gun accidents, which make up a large part of gun-related deaths in Georgia.
“When you have someone walking around with no gun training, they don’t put only themselves at risk, but everyone around them,” she said. “There are unintended consequences due to lack of knowledge of how to handle a weapon.”
For Jerry Henry, Executive Director of GeorgiaCarry.org, legislation does not do anything to solve the problem.
“Even the strict gun control laws in CA, which includes not only a background check but a Safety Certificate and a ‘cooling-off’ period [didn’t help]. None of this helped the 14 victims of San Bernardino, nor stopped the Sandy Hook murderer from killing his own mother, stealing her firearms, and driving to a gun-free zone to commit his mass murders,” he said.
As long as there are gun-free zones, like university campuses, he said that increases the risk of mass shootings.
In Georgia State, there was another armed attack on January 19, where a student was robbed of his cellphone and laptop from a study room in the library.
Georgia State Police Department’s Major Anthony Coleman said the department is taking different measures to increase police security and figure out how the attacker got inside.
“We are investigating on why there has been an increase in armed attacks, and will try to figure out if there is a pattern or trend among the people who are targeting the Georgia State campus,” he said.
