Georgia governor calls for permitless carry gun bill amid rise in Atlanta shootings  

He added, "We don't want people settling every dispute with a firearm, including political disputes. Giving everyone a firearm may not be the best thing for election integrity. If people think, 'well, all I have to do is take my gun and go to a polling center and I can actually influence something,' that's a bad idea."

With the last year's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse being acquitted of murder after fatally shooting two people at a protest, and a couple in St. Louis getting national attention for standing with guns in their front yard as protesters passed, the political narrative that arming yourself is the only way to stay safe has grown and evolved.

This could create dangerous situations in Georgia, where citizens are legally allowed to use deadly force to defend themselves, other people or property if they believe it is necessary.

"Permitless carry contributes to a dangerous narrative that informs and reinforces state-sanctioned violence. Coupled with use of force laws here in Georgia, specifically Stand Your Ground, we inadvertently promote a culture of violence that ultimately leaves our communities less safe," said Josh Woodall, public policy associate for the Southern Center for Human Rights.

The stress of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has also led to a surge in suicides, especially among Georgia's youth, as well as an increase in domestic violence, both of which usually involve guns.

According to Renee Hopkins, CEO of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, victims of domestic violence are five times more likely to die if there is easy access to a gun, which correlates with a dramatic increase in the risk of suicide as well.

"Guns do not make people safer. In situations where people are in crisis such as suicide or in domestic violence situations, having easy access to a gun can turn a harmful situation into a lethal situation," said Hopkins.

After losing her brother to a school shooting in 1996 and serving as the founding executive director of the Seattle Police Foundation for 14 years, Hopkins has devoted her career to implementing state laws aimed at gun violence prevention.

"Reckless policies like permitless carry will not even come close to addressing the rising rates of gun violence, and in fact they will make it worse. Policies like background checks and protection orders work to keep guns out of the hands of people who are most likely to cause harm, and those really are the kind of policies that I would hope all Georgia leaders should be focusing on," she said.

She added, "Research has shown that more permissive concealed carry laws are associated with increased levels of violent crime, and it's extremely concerning that Georgia's trying to follow a handful of other states in advancing policies as dangerous as permitless carry. There's no question that it would make Georgia less safe."

Another deadly consequence of expanding people's access to guns falls in the hands of law enforcement officers. A 2019 study from the American Economic Association found that permitless carry increases the rate of people fatally shot by police by 5.2%.

"What we're seeing in terms of officers being shot and officers being scared of being shot, creates a real distrust in the community," said Horwitz.

Despite the governor's mansion being located in the city, Kemp has not made any promise to address Atlanta's rising homicide and gun violence rates on his campaign site.

At the Jan. 5 gun store press conference, the governor said a surge in violent crime is more reason to expand access to guns.

"Building a safer, stronger Georgia starts with hardworking Georgians having the ability to protect themselves and their families,” he said. “In the face of rising violent crime across the country, law-abiding citizens should have their constitutional rights protected, not undermined.”

But Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant says something needs to be done about how many guns are on the streets.

“The proliferation of weaponry that we’re seeing on these streets, we have to do something about that,” Bryant said in a news conference after the 6-month-old baby was shot Monday. “We can no longer allow our criminals to continue to carry guns.”

Follow @Megwiththenews

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit