You’ve likely seen anti-gun advocates crowing over the recent Georgia court decision where a judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging Savannah’s ordinance imposing fines and potential jail time for citizens who leave firearms in unlocked cars.
In the action, gun owner Clarence Belt challenged the law because it violates the state’s firearms preemption law. And in fact, given the language of the state statute, it’s very likely that Belt’s assertion was accurate.
Georgia’s preemption law states: “No county or municipal corporation, by zoning, by ordinance or resolution, or by any other means, nor any agency, board, department, commission, political subdivision, school district, or authority of this state, other than the General Assembly, by rule or regulation or by any other means shall regulate in any manner: (A) Gun shows; (B) The possession, ownership, transport, carrying, transfer, sale, purchase, licensing, or registration of firearms or other weapons or components of firearms or other weapons; (C) Firearms dealers or dealers of other weapons; or (D) Dealers in components of firearms or other weapons.”
Ignoring the statute as many big city leaders tend to, Savannah’s mayor and city council unanimously passed an ordinance in April that outlawed keeping firearms in unlocked vehicles, and set a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail for each violation.
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