News

Actions

Ga. lawmakers face competing gun proposals

Gun Rights
Posted at
and last updated

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia lawmakers must soon resolve competing gun rights bills, including one that could allow some mentally ill people to legally carry a firearm.

House lawmakers voted 116-55 on Friday to approve amended Senate legislation. The bill now heads back to the Senate, which has backed different proposals.

The current plan would allow probate court judges to issue a license to carry a firearm to people who have received voluntary, in-patient treatment for mental health issues in the past five years. Right now, judges can deny permits to those people.

The bill would allow school districts to arm their employees, a response to a mass shooting in Connecticut.

Another provision would allow students with a license to carry a gun to take their weapons onto parts of public colleges and universities.