NRA-backed Constitutional Carry Passed in Georgia

Fairfax, Va. - NRA's Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) applauds the Georgia legislature for passing Senate Bill 319, NRA-backed legislation that allows law-abiding gun owners to carry a firearm without a permit from the state. 

"There is no reason a law-abiding person should need government permission to carry a firearm for self-defense," said Jason Ouimet, executive director of NRA-ILA.  

Constitutional carry allows anyone who is legally allowed to posses a firearm to carry that firearm without a permit from the state. It will not affect previously issued permits to carry and allows those who still wish to obtain a permit in order to carry in states recognizing Georgia permits to do so.  It also does not allow anyone prohibited under state or federal law from possessing a firearm to carry a firearm. 

"Georgia has long supported our Second Amendment rights. By passing this bill, the legislators demonstrated that commitment and helped preserve the God-given freedoms on which this country was founded," Ouimet concluded. 

Gov. Kemp said on Friday, "I appreciate the House & Senate for their hard work to get Constitutional Carry over the finish line. Law-abiding Georgians deserve to ensure they can protect themselves and their families, and this legislation strengthens that God-given right. I look forward to signing the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act into law soon and fulfilling another promise I made to the voters of this state."

Georgia is now the 25th state, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming, to pass legislation allowing law-abiding individuals to carry a concealed handgun without a government-issued permit.

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. More than five million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Be sure to follow the NRA on Facebook at NRA on Facebook and Twitter @NRA.