Gable Sporting Goods Hosts Signing Of Gun Bills Into State Law

Gable Sporting Goods was one of the very first supporters of GON magazine when it first began way back in 1987, and the Douglasville store is still a supporter to this day as a magazine advertiser. So it was noteworthy to us that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp—a longtime GON subscriber—chose Gables as the location to sign two new pieces of gun legislation into law.

The bill signings took place April 12, 2022.

Now, Senate Bill 319, also known as Georgia Constitutional Carry, and House Bill 218, known as the Chairman John Meadows Act, are both the law of the land in Georgia.

The Chairman John Meadows Act, House Bill 218, allows people from out of state to carry their firearm in Georgia, so long as they are licensed to do so in their state. It also directs the Georgia Attorney General to enter into formal reciprocity agreements with any state that requires a formal agreement to recognize a Georgia Weapons Carry License. This new law recognizes that Georgia residents traveling to other states, and visitors to Georgia, should not be left defenseless simply by crossing a state line.

John Meadows was Chairman of the House Rules Committee when he died of cancer in 2018. Prior to serving in the state legislature, John was the mayor of Calhoun. Gov. Brian Kemp praised his commitment to the 2nd Amendment during his time in the Georgia legislature.

“I had the honor of serving with John Meadows in the General Assembly, and when I was Secretary of State,” Gov. Kemp said. “It was a tough blow when we lost him. He was a good man, he was a good friend. And he did a lot of great things for our state, and we continue to build off the foundation that him and many others set for us all.

“I’m excited to be here today to sign SB 319 and HB 218 to help build a safer and stronger Georgia,” Gov. Kemp said. “Here at Gables is where Marty and I bought Lucy her first firearm, a Glock 43X 9MM, which she is carrying today. We did that not only because we strongly believe in the 2nd Amendment, but we want Lucy and both of her sisters, and all Georgians, to be able to rightly defend themselves.”

Georgia Constitutional Carry (SB 319) applies to any adult legally allowed to carry a gun. They can now carry a handgun concealed without having to go through the process of applying for a GWL (Georgia Weapons License) with a local law enforcement agency. Georgia’s GWL permit system remains in place, and those who go through the process and pay the fee to get a concealed permit will have more privileges. For example, showing the permit will continue to let the purchaser skip the background check when purchasing a gun at a store. Also, a Georgian with a GWL permit could, depending on another state’s laws, be allowed to carry concealed in another state.

Georgia is now the 25^th state where carry permits are not required, and it is the fourth state to pass a Constitutional Carry law in 2022.

“SB 319 makes sure that law-abiding Georgians, including our daughters and your family, can protect themselves without having to have permission from your state government. The constitution of the United States gives us that right, not the government,” said Gov. Kemp. “There is no doubt we are living in challenging times. Across the country we are witnessing liberal states and cities demonize law enforcement, defund police departments, undermine public safety and threaten the safety of countless American families. But we are not going to have that here in our state.”

The new Constitutional Carry law or a GWL permit does not mean that conceal-carry is allowed everywhere and anywhere. You are not allowed to carry in and around schools, courthouses, in stadiums during professional sporting events, restricted areas of airports, any in any place that has been prohibited by federal laws—among other restrictions. Before carrying a gun, research and know what is and what is not allowed.