Sue Them???
Sue the cops for false arrest? How are THEY supposed to know the difference between a "public place" and a "public gathering"? They certainly aren't going to pick up on the distinction from READING THE LAW, the actual statute, because it's "clear as mud" as they say down in south Georgia. Are cops supposed to know important caselaw-- decisions such as the BURNS case from the Court of Appeals? Yeah, you could say that, when the statute is unclear they're supposed to know the ruling of the courts. The trouble is, BURNS only applies to fast-food restaurants. What if you get arrested for open carry someplace else? How about at a bank? Maybe there are several people waiting at the ATM, and you stand in line with them? Maybe at the local 7/11 convenience store. It could be anywhere. And there is no real way to know what's prohibited and what's allowed. Keep in mind that the Attorney General's unofficial opinions are advisory only, and binding on NOBODY, for any purpose. Even OFFICIAL A.G. opinions are only binding on state officers and agencies.
Bottom line: Don't blame the cops if they mis-interpret this screwed-up law. The law itself should have been struck down years ago as overly vague. But the courts didn't have the nerve to do that, and perhaps it's a good thing, because then the law might ban guns "in public places" rather than at "public gatherings."
