Cobb County, Georgia, citizens received a shock on Thursday, September 8, 2022, when two sheriff’s officers were killed while performing their official duties and serving a warrant. According to Sheriff Craig Owens, the event happened in the Marietta neighbourhood sometime around 9 o’clock local time.

The Sheriff said that the murdered deputies were attempting to serve a warrant at a Marietta residence but received no answer. Two people arrived in a car and shot the deputies as they were returning to their car.

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What are the gun laws in Georgia?

Georgia is an open carry state, which means that any legally owned handgun can be carried openly or concealed in most public places without a permit.

The right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the Georgia Constitution. The Georgia Constitution states in Article One, Section One, Paragraph VII, “The right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have the power to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne.” Ann. Code Within a general list of citizens’ rights, 1-2-6(a)(9) includes “the right to keep and bear arms.”

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Georgia is a “shall issue” state for both open and concealed carry, with the Georgia Weapon’s Carry License application being submitted through the probate court of the applicant’s county of residence. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, unless they provide proof of basic training and military service.

On April 12, 2022, Governor Brian Kemp signed the Constitutional Carry bill SB 319 into law, allowing both open and concealed carry of handguns, long guns, and other weapons, including knives and various others, for both residents and non-residents 21 years of age or older.

Local governments are prohibited by state preemption laws from regulating the ownership, transportation, carrying, and possession of firearms and knives. Georgia also has a law that prohibits municipalities from passing ordinances or filing lawsuits to declare gun ranges a nuisance. This means that those with a valid Georgia Weapons License may carry in local parks, offices, and other non-Federal government agencies. Weapons are still prohibited on Corps of Engineers and US Postal Service property, according to federal regulations.

Georgia became a “Stand Your Ground” state on July 1, 2006, requiring no duty to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense or defence of others.

Georgia lawmakers passed HB 280 in 2017, allowing concealed carry permit holders to carry concealed handguns on public college campuses. On May 4, 2017, Governor Nathan Deal signed it into law.

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The law went into effect on July 1, 2017 on all University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia campuses, including universities, colleges, and technical colleges. Under HB280, any Georgia Weapons Licensee may carry concealed on University System of Georgia or Technical College System of Georgia property.

They are not permitted to carry in any University System dormitory or Greek house, any athletic venue used for intercollegiate sports, any daycare facility on campus with gated entry, any classroom with a currently enrolled high school student, any private office space, or any room currently in use for disciplinary proceedings .

Some counties have passed Second Amendment sanctuary laws.