Georgia Gun Rights Group to Push for Lower Age Restrictions, Expanded Access in 2023 Legislative Session

Pro-Second Amendment organization GA2A, previously known as GeorgiaCarry.org, has announced its 2023 Legislative Priorities, which include a host of legal revisions around age, location, and opt-in stipulations for gun owners.

The organization is mostly recently credited with leading efforts to pass Constitutional Carry (SB319) in 2022. The group recently outlined a host of priorities for the upcoming session, which begins in January, including that they “will champion legislation that bans governmental entities from: ending the purchase of firearms during a declared State of Emergency, prohibiting gun discharge on private property larger than 10 acres, and creating gun databases that can be used to track gun owners.”

During the 2023 Legislative Session, GA2A will strongly advocate for the following:

• Lowering the minimum age for a Georgia Weapons License (GWL) from 21 years of age to 18
• Eliminating gender and age restrictions for joining the State Militia, add training requirements
• Removing “opt-in” requirement for Church Carry
• Changing “Courthouses” in Georgia Code to the portion of buildings used for Superior Court judicial functions
• Allowing seized firearms to be quickly auctioned for profit by local law enforcement to qualified gun owners
• Clarifying “Campus Carry” language defining firearms, locations
• Awarding monetary damages to applicants for failure to process GWL application
• Stopping state, local governments from restricting the legal purchase of firearms during an emergency
• Providing immunity from civil liability for property owners who allow firearms
• Establishing liability for governments that restrict firearms but fail to offer safe storage
• Prohibiting local governments from banning the discharge of weapons on 10 acres of private property or more
• Banning the creation of multijurisdictional GWL databases used to track firearm owners
• Establishing a standard for obtaining a GWL through court order, revoking GWL through Superior Court
• Restore Common Law definition of assault  

You can read in-depth explanations of each item here.

“The 2022 Legislative Session was a banner year for gun owners and 2nd Amendment backers in Georgia,” said Jerry Henry, Executive Director of GA2A. “With the passage of SB319, better known as Constitutional Carry, Georgia became the 25th state in the country to allow law-abiding citizens to exercise their rights by carrying a concealed firearm without a permit.

“While energized and encouraged by the progress made under the Gold Dome, legislative action is still needed to Shield the 2nd in Georgia. During the 2023 Session, our grassroots organization will actively push for new laws that protect – and restore – our 2nd Amendment Rights.

“We look forward to partnering with state leaders, lawmakers, and the grassroots to turn our legislative agenda into law. Together, we will ensure a safer, stronger future for all Georgians.”