Georgia's legal showdown over the Second Amendment has reached a tipping point with Savannah's recent ordinance that requires people to lock their vehicles if they contain firearms. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the state Attorney General Chris Carr admonished city officials for their law, which imposes a fine of up to $1,000 and 30 days in jail for violations, saying the regulation contradicts state laws.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, a staunch advocate of the ordinance and having previously served as a police officer, stands firm on the city's stance despite the Attorney General's letter demanding a retraction of the law. In response to the claims made by Carr, Johnson said Monday that the ordinance will remain in effect, reported by KESQ. The city's new rule, voted in unanimously on April 11, was created in an effort to curtail the rate of gun thefts, which saw more than 200 firearms being reported stolen from vehicles last year, with most of them being taken from unlocked cars.
AG Carr's letter, sent to city officials last Friday, explains his view that the ordinance contradicts Georgia legislation forbidding local governments from regulating firearm possession, ownership, transport, or carrying. He cited a 2007 ruling where the Georgia Court of Appeals overturned a Coweta County firearm restriction on sports fields and recreational facilities as past precedent for local regulations being struck down. Carr's admonishment could foreseeably spark a legal battle over the rights of city governments to pass gun safety measures, in contrast to a state legislature mostly dominated by Republicans.
In a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta, Carr expressed his concern that city officials may face civil liability if they enforce the contentious ordinance. Referencing the police statistics from Savannah, it was indicated that a similar number of thefts are continuing this year, with 56 of the 69 guns being pilfered from unlocked vehicles. The mounting tension between state and local authorities could be a harbinger for how gun regulation disputes are handled in the future.
A lawsuit filed by a private citizen in Chatham County Superior Court challenges the ordinance's enforcement, still seeking a judge's decision to potentially halt it. Meanwhile, the ongoing dispute exemplifies the complexities surrounding firearm safety, local government autonomy, and Second Amendment rights as officials and constituents watch closely.
