HB 406 has passed the house and "crossed over" to the Georgia Senate.
This bill is a minor adjustment of our law that is needed to fix a BIG PROBLEM caused by the fact that most other states we currently have reciprocity with do not like the idea of 18-20 year olds carrying guns, and for a few years now Georgia has changed our GWL issuance standards to allow for MILITARY VETERANS, either currently serving or honorably discharged, to get a GWL as young as 18, if they've passed their weapons training in the military.
GEORGIA's Attorney General declared that if we don't have full reciprocity with a state, and the age limitations don't match and that other state won't recognize an 18-20 year old Georgian's carry permit, then WE can't recognize ANY of their carry permits, regardless of the age of the licensed person from that state.
(Thanks, Ken Ford, for pointing out that this isn't Virginia's fault).
So, our legislative fix to the problem is for Georgia to declare that Virginians (or folks from any other reciprocity state) CAN carry in Georgia IF Virginia recognizes our GWL's for persons at least age 21 and up. They don't have to grant reciprocity for 18 year olds in order for us to give all their permit holders reciprocity rights.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR and SUPPORT H.B. 406.
Here's a link to the bill itself, and you can find the full text of it there:
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20172018/HB/406
If you don't know who your State Senator is, one of the links at this Georgia Senate official web page will identify both your House Representative and your Senator, based on your street address.
http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/FindyourLegislator.aspx
This bill is a minor adjustment of our law that is needed to fix a BIG PROBLEM caused by the fact that most other states we currently have reciprocity with do not like the idea of 18-20 year olds carrying guns, and for a few years now Georgia has changed our GWL issuance standards to allow for MILITARY VETERANS, either currently serving or honorably discharged, to get a GWL as young as 18, if they've passed their weapons training in the military.
GEORGIA's Attorney General declared that if we don't have full reciprocity with a state, and the age limitations don't match and that other state won't recognize an 18-20 year old Georgian's carry permit, then WE can't recognize ANY of their carry permits, regardless of the age of the licensed person from that state.
(Thanks, Ken Ford, for pointing out that this isn't Virginia's fault).
So, our legislative fix to the problem is for Georgia to declare that Virginians (or folks from any other reciprocity state) CAN carry in Georgia IF Virginia recognizes our GWL's for persons at least age 21 and up. They don't have to grant reciprocity for 18 year olds in order for us to give all their permit holders reciprocity rights.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR and SUPPORT H.B. 406.
Here's a link to the bill itself, and you can find the full text of it there:
http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20172018/HB/406
If you don't know who your State Senator is, one of the links at this Georgia Senate official web page will identify both your House Representative and your Senator, based on your street address.
http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/FindyourLegislator.aspx
