Updates on two bills that we discussed on the blog:
The AJC reports Georgia lawmakers gave final passage early this morning to a law legalizing guns on the state’s public college and university campuses, sending it to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.
House Bill 280 would allow anyone with a concealed weapons permit to carry firearms on public college and university campuses, with exceptions that include dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses, and buildings used for athletic events. On-campus child care centers would also be excluded, as would areas on some college campuses where high school students attend class.
The governor may sign this bill — he vetoed a similar campus carry bill last year. But the bill that came out a House-Senate conference committee early this morning contained the additional exempted areas on campuses that Deal had sought — classrooms used by high school students in dual enrollment programs; and offices or rooms used for disciplinary hearings.
There is likely to be a surge of calls to Deal asking him to veto this bill. So, stay tuned.
HB51/SB71 — the campus rape bill that appeared dead and then revived by a legislative sleight of hand — never got a vote last night or this morning in the final hours of the General Assembly. I expect this bill will come up again next year, and opponents say they will be at the Capitol again every day to fight it once more.
