Politics & Government

Poll: Gun Carry Without a Permit?

House Bill 679 would allow law-abiding citizens to carry weapons without a permit.

Gun ownership. It's literally the law in Kennesaw. But what do residents of "Guntown USA" think of a bill that would let law-abiding Georgia citizens carry concealed weapons without a permit?

State Rep. Jason Spencer, R-Woodbine, has introduced House Bill 679, also known as the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act of 2012. The measure would allow anyone who can legally own a gun to carry one without a permit.

The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee heard testimony on the issue Thursday with officials from gun-rights groups arguing in favor of the bill citing the Second Amendment, reported the Augusta Chronicle.

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Supporters of the bill also testified that the gun licensing process can be burdensome.

“Individuals have to travel to their county probate, fill out papers, pay a tax, get fingerprinted, submit to background checks and in many cases, wait weeks, if not months, to receive their license,” said Georgia Gun Owners’ Patrick Parsons in a WSBTV video of the hearing. Parsons said 17,000 gun owners had already signed a petition in support of the bill.

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The states of Alaska, Arizona, Vermont and Wyoming, and parts of Montana outside city and town limits, currently have "Constitutional Carry" laws in place.

What do you think? Should Georgians be allowed to carry weapons without a permit? Tell us in the comments, and participate in our poll.

 


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