Gov. Nathan Deal Lauded for Vetoing Campus Carry Bill, Recognizing Concerns of Educational Community

Atlanta, GA –  A few minutes ago, Gov. Nathan Deal announced his veto of HB 859, the campus carry bill previously passed by the Georgia General Assembly. The legislation would have forced Georgia’s public colleges and universities to allow anyone with a concealed weapons permit to carry loaded handguns on all property owned or leased by the University System of Georgia, with only limited exceptions. The General Assembly refused to consider Gov. Deal’s concerns about the sensibility of allowing firearms in a number of different places, such as daycare centers, disciplinary hearings, and faculty offices.The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, which worked extensively to defeat the bill with faculty, students and concerned citizens across the state, applauds Gov. Deal for his decision.

Kathryn Grant, Southeast Region Director of the Campaign stated: “We commend Gov. Deal for recognizing the concerns powerfully voiced by those within the campus community in Georgia – the very people most impacted by this bad bill, and who, unlike the state legislature, are in the best position to determine how to most effectively address public safety on campus.” Grant added, “We are grateful for the tens of thousands of Georgian’s, including faculty and students, who expressed their concerns to Governor Deal, and the tremendous efforts by Everytown for Gun Safety, members of GunSense Georgia, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America – Georgia Chapter, OutCry! Georgia, Know Your IX, Do Something.org and many others who worked tirelessly on behalf of Georgia’s students, faculty, staff, campus administrators and campus law enforcement.”

Andy Pelosi, Executive Director of The Campaign closed by saying: “Longstanding tradition in this country, and in Georgia’s educational system, recognizes that, no matter where else some may think guns should be allowed in our society, guns do not belong in an environment like college campuses. The Georgia General Assembly gave no good reason why we should reject this wisdom of decades, even centuries of experience. We thank Gov. Deal for recognizing that.  However, we also know that campus carry will be brought up again during the next session, as it has been in the past. If this is the case, we hope that lawmakers will decide to take to heart Gov. Deal’s suggestion in his veto statement: to address the problem of gun violence on campus, possession or use of firearms should not be wholly authorized, but actually carry an increased penalty.”