Campus Security Act Passes Georgia House

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ATLANTA, GA -- The Georgia House of Representatives on Monday passed House Bill 859, sponsored by Republican State Reps. Rick Jasperse of Jasper and Mandi Ballinger of Canton.

This legislation, commonly referred to as the Campus Safety Act, protects and expands the Second Amendment rights of firearms license holders on Georgia’s college campuses.

House Bill 859 would allow for the concealed carry of handguns by firearms license holders in Georgia while in or on certain buildings or real property owned by or leased to any public technical school, vocational school, college, university, or other institution of post-secondary education.

“We have heard entirely too many stories recently of Georgia’s students being robbed and held at gunpoint with no way of defending themselves because of the existing laws on our college campuses,” Ballinger said. “By creating gun-free zones, we are only making it easier for criminals to commit crimes and making our students more vulnerable to violent attacks. This legislation is common sense, and necessary for the protection and safety of our students.”

However, this bill would not apply to buildings or property used for athletic events or student housing including sorority and fraternity houses.

HB 859 will now go to the Senate for consideration. For more information on H.B. 859, please click here.

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