Georgia 68th District Rep. Timothy Bearden spoke to the area GeorgiaCarry.org group Saturday.
The group, which is head Tim Huett of Hinesville, had its monthly meeting at the Club house in Rye Patch.
“Most people in Georgia don’t realize it, but Georgians have some of the most restrictive laws in the nation on carrying firearms,” Bearden said. “States like Washington and even California, which are states that a lot of people feel are liberal states, aren’t as strict as we are here.”
According to the Villa Rica Republican, one of the problems that Georgia has, regarding the right to carry firearms is the vague interpretation of the Public Gathering Law.
“This law has no clear guidelines and as a result
of this any time three or more people are gathered together they can be interpreted as a group, and the law could be enforced, where they can’t carry a gun,” Bearden said.
The lawmaker discussed Georgia House Bill 65, which, according to him, “puts everything on the table.”
“If this bill passes, we can get some clarification on carrying a firearm, and some of this loose interpretation can be stopped,” he said.
The lawmaker said gun rights advocates need to stand up to those who are trying to weaken the right to carry guns.
“The most important thing you can do is to let people know how you
feel. Let your local senators and congressmen know that you feel that this is an in-
dividual right,” Bearden said.
“Let them know that you have the right to protect yourself and your family, but that you also have the right to protect others during the commission of a crime.
“Guns are not the problem. Criminals are the problem.”
District 68 covers Carroll and Douglas counties. Bearden serves on the House’s Judiciary Non-Civil Committee and the Motor Vehicles and Registration Industry Committee.
After Bearden spoke, Huett raffled off items donated by Mission Essentials in Hinesville. Then members went to a firing range to fire different weapons.
According to Huett, GCO was created to preserve and expand the rights of Georgians to carry firearms.
For more information on GCO, go to www.georgiacarry.org or e-mail info@georgiacarry.org.
The group, which is head Tim Huett of Hinesville, had its monthly meeting at the Club house in Rye Patch.
“Most people in Georgia don’t realize it, but Georgians have some of the most restrictive laws in the nation on carrying firearms,” Bearden said. “States like Washington and even California, which are states that a lot of people feel are liberal states, aren’t as strict as we are here.”
According to the Villa Rica Republican, one of the problems that Georgia has, regarding the right to carry firearms is the vague interpretation of the Public Gathering Law.
“This law has no clear guidelines and as a result
of this any time three or more people are gathered together they can be interpreted as a group, and the law could be enforced, where they can’t carry a gun,” Bearden said.
The lawmaker discussed Georgia House Bill 65, which, according to him, “puts everything on the table.”
“If this bill passes, we can get some clarification on carrying a firearm, and some of this loose interpretation can be stopped,” he said.
The lawmaker said gun rights advocates need to stand up to those who are trying to weaken the right to carry guns.
“The most important thing you can do is to let people know how you
feel. Let your local senators and congressmen know that you feel that this is an in-
dividual right,” Bearden said.
“Let them know that you have the right to protect yourself and your family, but that you also have the right to protect others during the commission of a crime.
“Guns are not the problem. Criminals are the problem.”
District 68 covers Carroll and Douglas counties. Bearden serves on the House’s Judiciary Non-Civil Committee and the Motor Vehicles and Registration Industry Committee.
After Bearden spoke, Huett raffled off items donated by Mission Essentials in Hinesville. Then members went to a firing range to fire different weapons.
According to Huett, GCO was created to preserve and expand the rights of Georgians to carry firearms.
For more information on GCO, go to www.georgiacarry.org or e-mail info@georgiacarry.org.