Georgia firearm violence policy: evidence-based legislative initiative

Georgia Gun Violence

Reducing Gun Violence in the State of Georgia

Gun violence in the state of Georgia has not been reduced like much of the rest of the country, and it could be the state's relaxed gun laws that are to blame. As strong supporters of gun rights in general, it is this legislature's best interest to find common ground on measures to reduce gun violence, while maintaining the freedom of gun ownership for individuals. (GeorgiaPacking.org, 1) Gun violence in the state of Georgia has hit levels deemed unacceptable by the people of Georgia, who are concerned that inner city violence will spill into the rest of Georgia. Being mindful in balancing points of opinion, Georgia must curb illegal gun ownership, particularly in Atlanta, while maintaining its fiercely supportive stance on the Constitution's Second Amendment.

The first difference must be the ability of local police officers in the county of Atlanta to discover and confiscate illegal gun ownership amongst individuals. The worst abuses of hand arms come from young urban men who almost always do not hold the permit to the weapon that they own. Often these young men are younger than the age of 18, and still maintain access to firearms through police laxity in patrolling such illegal trade. This proposal will tie into the third proposal, which seeks to require registration on all new handgun purchases within the state of Georgia, in addition to having the ability to have a license to carry a concealed firearm.

The second proposal is creating a "no-questions asked" weapon turn in point inside of the city of Atlanta. Police officers will offer $500 for any real handgun turned in, without questions asked by the police. (WALP, 1) This step creates a safe environment for would-be gun users to be offered a fair compensation for their weapons, while maintaining their individual privacy and protection from police questioning. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to remove handguns from Atlanta's streets, and has worked remarkably well in another violence-plagued metropolis, New York City. The program may seem expensive at $500 per gun, but the cost of medical fees and human lives is far greater than the expense the city incurs by buying back handguns.

The final proposal is to mandate gun registration on all new purchases in the state of Georgia. This mandate does not infringe on Second Amendment rights, as evidenced by other states, which do require gun registration. This measure will help the courts sort out legal and illegal gun purchases, and will ultimately benefit the citizens of Georgia. The opposition to gun registration is not supported by legal precedent nor the predictions by experts that gun violence is reduced when proper registration practices are in place. (Police Link, 1)