House Bill 859, known as the “Campus Carry” bill, passed through the state House Monday. And recent Georgia State robberies gave legislators some ammunition to push the bill through with a 113-59 vote.
The bill would allow anyone over the age of 21 with a concealed carry license to be able to carry a gun with them anywhere on an in-state college campus, except in student housing and at athletic events.
The bill’s primary sponsor, State Rep. Rick Jasperse, R-Jasper, told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, the bill is “a solution to a real world problem,” referring to the campus’ latest safety issues. He has also called the bill, the “Campus Safety Act” in the past.
Jerry Henry, executive director of Georgia Carry told The Signal, with the passing of the bill people can protect themselves now.
“Any law abiding citizen over the age of 21 will have a background check. People who are committing crimes now are under the age of 21, so we are never able to truly stop people from obtaining guns. However, people can protect themselves now.”
Henry said anyone over the age of 21 should be able to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
However, many students said they feel less safe with the passing of HB 859.
Sidney Prescott, a Georgia State student, said the bill is “constituted upon consumptions.”
“There’s an assumption that people 21 years or older have the ability to assess risk to themselves or others,” she said. “This bill is guilty of creating a solution to only one aspect of a larger issue.”
Mia Tanksley, a freshman at Georgia State, said she thinks allowing students to come to school strapped would create more problems than it would remedy.
“I don’t think more guns is a solution to the problem,” she said. “It’s ridiculous to just give everyone the right to legally have a gun on campus.”
