This year marks the 10 year anniversary of HB512, which would’ve permitted individuals to carry concealed firearms on public university campuses in the state of Georgia.
The Safe Carry Protection Act, also known as House Bill 512, was initially proposed in 2013. The bill aimed to legalize licensed gun holders to carry concealed weapons on college campuses, except for in residence halls, athletic facilities and sorority and fraternity houses, according to The Red & Black.
The bill would have also permitted guns in churches, bars, secured government buildings and non-secured areas of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Through the Republican supermajority within the General Assembly, the bill was passed with a 41 to 10 vote. In order for the bill to become a law, former Gov. Nathan Deal had to sign it.
Rep. Rick Jasperse, who was the sponsor of the bill, and other members of the Board of Regents ultimately decided against it due to receiving various letters from the presidents of the University System of Georgia, such as President Michael Adams, who protested against HB 512.
Although HB512 never went into effect, Georgia lawmakers have continued to pass bills making concealed carry more lenient on college campuses.
In 2017, the General Assembly passed House Bill 280, known as the “Campus Carry Law” applies to individuals 21 years old and older with a valid firearms license. After it passed, Georgia became the No. 10 state in the nation where concealed carry legislation regarding public college campuses was passed, according to USA Today.
Regarding the law, the University System of Georgia said “that anyone who qualifies as a lawful weapons carrier may carry a handgun— in a concealed manner only— anywhere on Georgia’s public college and university campuses, except for certain areas that are specifically listed in the law.”
USG also outlined that “HB 280 only prohibits handguns in rooms and spaces that are being used for classes in which high school students are enrolled,” and “It does not prohibit license-holders from carrying concealed handguns in other areas where those high school students may go while on campus.” Those carrying a firearm are responsible for the safe storage of their firearm and they are not permitted to carry it to a class where a high school student is registered.
This law applies to all public universities in Georgia including Kennesaw State, the University of Georgia and the Georgia Institute of Technology.
As of April 2022, Gov. Brian Kemp signed the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act, known as SB319, and the weapons carry license reciprocity measure, known as HB 218.
SB319 allows the possession of handguns in public parks and historic and recreational areas. HB218 ensures that licensed weapon owners in a different state have the right to conceal carry in Georgia as well.
Georgia ranks #33 in gun ownership in the United States, with an approximate 37.7% gun ownership rate. Montana ranks at #1 with a 65.7% gun ownership rate, according to Wise Voter.
According to USA Today, research and data released by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that this type of legislation does not aid to reduce the likelihood of mass shootings in public spaces.
