Campaign Denounces Vote by Georgia House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security Advancing Guns on Campus Bill

Atlanta, GA –  This afternoon the Georgia House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security voted to approve HB 280, legislation that will force loaded, concealed guns into many places on public colleges and universities, including classrooms, disciplinary hearings, faculty and administrative offices, and libraries and health centers. The bill now heads to the Rules Committee, and then to the floor for a full House vote this week.

STATEMENT FROM ANDY PELOSI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CAMPAIGN TO KEEP GUNS OFF CAMPUS:

“Unfortunately, today’s vote advancing guns on campus legislation by the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee comes as no surprise.  This is the 8th session in a row that gun lobby-backed legislators in the General Assembly have pushed legislation that will not increase safety on Georgia’s campuses.  Furthermore, supporters of HB 280 failed to heed the words of Governor Deal from last year’s veto statement where he stressed that “[i]f the intent of HB 859 is to increase safety of students on college campuses, it is highly questionable that such would be the result”.

HB 280 and similar legislation has nothing to do with safety concerns, but everything to do with well-orchestrated efforts by the gun lobby to push loaded, concealed weapons into as many public places (including secondary and post-secondary educational settings).  We will continue to push back against this wrong-headed policy and trust that Governor Deal’s well-reasoned and thoughtful veto message from last year will hold true again and prevent this bill from becoming law.”