Sorry if it's a repost: Gun bill holstered for year, says Cagle By CARLOS CAMPOS The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 04/18/07 A bill to extend access to firearms in motor vehicles in Georgia will not be debated by the Legislature, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said today. "This bill is dead for the session," Cagle, the Senate president, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a phone interview. "There was every effort made to try to reach an agreement and at the end of the day neither side could seemingly come to an agreement that they could live with. And there was not the support to bring it to the floor and so we let the bill die for the year." The state Senate was prepared to debate House Bill 89 this week, but the mass shootings at Virginia Tech forced legislators to question the timing of such a discussion. "I think that clearly it was on the minds of every elected official," Cagle said. HB 89 is a hybrid version of a House bill sponsored by Rep. Timothy Bearden (R-Villa Rica) and Senate Bill 43, sponsored by Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock). Bearden's bill would allow motorists to conceal weapons anywhere inside of their cars. Current law requires them to be exposed to plain view, or hidden in a glove box or center console. Rogers' bill would essentially allow employees to store firearms in their motor vehicles while parked in company parking lots. The bill would've still allowed the owners of the parking lots to prohibit firearms on the property. But not all businesses own their lots. The bill upset the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, an important Republican ally. It also was opposed by gun safety advocates, and many in law enforcement, who feared it would lead to more guns on the state's roads and highways — increasing the potential for violence. But he National Rifle Association put tremendous pressure on lawmakers to take up the bill. They argued SB 43 allowed Georgians to defend themselves and their families while commuting to and from work. Legislators were considering taking a vote on it this week, but the shootings at Virginia Tech chilled the discussion.
Don't quit. Let's keep going like champions. The session doesn't end until the Lt. Gov yells Sine Die or a fat lady sings (anyone seen Rosie lately?) Do one more email to your Senator asking them to pass HB89 in its original form ..... miracles do happen.
When ever I see that picture of Rosie, I am tempted to take a black permanent marker and write the word "CK HOLE" next to her big mouth. A mouth that big she oughta make good use out of it...
Are you kidding?! She may mistake me for a bratwurst and bite down! No way my purple-headed yogurt slinger is getting near that black hole.
Rep. Timothy J. Bearden, the bill's author, is NOT giving up. I spoke to him recently, and he is pushing. He needs your help. Contact your Senator. Contact the Senators on Rules. Be polite, but let them know you want HB 89 passed THIS YEAR. Tell Casey Cagle, too.
EARN, sorry for changing your headline, but I am not giving up HB 89 for dead until this week and the General Assembly session are over. You should not, either. Use a few minutes today to write and call your Senator, at a minimum. If you can make time, a personal visit may work wonders. Be friendly and ask. It is hard to tell a friendly person "No" when they are smiling and standing right in front of you. Folks, there is still time!
even though I just posted hearing that the committe dropped it, I sent an email wish I could do more from work!
Good! =D> Keep it up, people! Wear out those fingers! Retired folks, students, or other people who do not work during the weekday from before the sun comes up until after it goes down or can take a long lunch, go visit in person! Not everything has to be an organized event. Just show up and ask them to pass HB 89. It will pass by a wide margin if the NRA will relent on the language it added this week (over the objection of the bill's author).