<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Courtesy of Atlanta Progressive News at:</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/interspire/news/2014/02/08/georgia-house-committee-approves-gun-advocates’-dream-bill.html">http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/interspire/news/2014/02/08/georgia-house-committee-approves-gun-advocates’-dream-bill.html</a></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">-----------------------------------</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>Georgia House Committee Aproves Gun Advocates' Dream Bill</b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">(APN) ATLANTA -- After two days of hearings, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee of the Georgia House of Representatives voted 8 to 4 in favor of HB 875. </span></span></p><div><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; font-size: small;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><br></span></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The bill, if enacted, would allow people with gun permits to carry weapons in bars, churches, schools, and some government buildings. Next it will go to the Rules Committee and then to the full House for a vote.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">"We hope it does not pass in the House. This is a very, very, very dangerous bill. This seems to be a license to kill,” State Rep. Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) told Atlanta Progressive News.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It is providing you with a vehicle and a tool to circumvent the legal system, to give you full right to to kill someone is what this bill, to me, does. I don't think this bill is about protecting anyone. I think this bill is dangerous for so many reasons. One, it allows individuals to take weapons into bars, where individuals primarily consume alcohol," Rep. Waites (D-Atlanta) said. </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Four Democrats--Reps. Gloria Frazier (D-Hephzibah), Scott Holcomb (D-Atlanta), Mack Jackson (D-Sandersville), and Waites--voted against the bill. One Democrat, Rep. Mike Glanton (D-Jonesboro), voted for the bill. All Republican members of the Committee who were present, voted or the bill.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The first day of Committee hearings was dominated by opponents of the bill. Clergy from numerous denominations and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense advocated against HB 875.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"College presidents, law enforcement officials, the county commissioners, the municipal officials, everybody has been clear about their positions on this bill and have spoken out against this bill," Rep. Waites said. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On the second day of committee hearings, numerous citizens, primarily consisting of White men, explained to the Committee why they believed they needed to carry guns everywhere 24 hours a day, seven days a week. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Many pro-gun advocates from the National Rifle Association (NRA) testified how more guns in public places will make us more safe. They all wore buttons that read "Guns Saves Lives." </span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Georgia is about to make it legal for registered gun owners to carry their weapons almost everywhere.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Florida, national attention has focused on two prominent cases were armed White men have killed unarmed Black teen age boys and used "Stand Your Ground" as their defense. In the first case, George Zimmerman was acquitted. Michael Dunn's court trial, for killing Jordan Davis over loud music, has just started.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Like in Florida and other Southern states, Stand Your Ground Laws makes it legal to kill anyone one perceives as a threat, eliminating the legal requirement to retreat when possible that currently exists in some situations.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With Stand Your Ground already in place, HB 875 will arm more people in more public places in Georgia. These two laws together could be a potent recipe for disaster.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At the HB 875 gun hearing, the Bishop family from Pine Mountain, Georgia, testified about the 2007 murder of their son, Jamie, at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. A deranged student killed 32 people at Virginia Tech and wounded others on April 16, 2007.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"We reject the notion that consenting to guns in schools for persons with a concealed-carry permit would better prevent the sort of senseless violence that took 32 lives at Virginia Tech," Michael Bishop testified to the committee members. "Allowing guns to proliferate in our society as HB 875 would do with no serious requirement for expanded background checks or training is a recipe for more, rather than less, gun violence."</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Are you, our elected officials, going to answer to the majority of your constituents; or to a vocal extremist minority more concerned about its personal safety than public safety, and wedded to the schoolboy fantasy that in any mass shooting one of their numbers will step up and save the day a la Bruce Willis in yet another Die Hard sequel?" Bishop asked the Committee.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A recent poll by the Atlanta Journal and Constitution newspaper shows that 78 percent of those polled oppose allowing guns on the state's college campuses; 72 percent opposed allowing guns in churches; and 82 percent would mandate any gun owner who wanted to carry a weapon in public to first take a required safety course.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I'm an NRA member of the Board of Directors and I speak on behalf of the NRA. I want to communicate to you from them our strong support of HB 875 sponsored by Rep. Rick Jasperse. The components of this bill in opening up more locations across the state where law-abiding citizens will have the ability to protect themselves against violent attackers are of paramount importance to enhance the personal safety of Georgia residents," Carolyn Meadows told the Committee.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Would you not agree that bars are a place where individuals consume excessive amounts of alcohol?" Rep. Waites asked Meadows.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I don't frequent them, so I'm not real sure. I would trust the fact that people who have armed themselves would be responsible," Meadows answered.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Laughter from a few and gasps of disbelief from others came from the packed room.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Would you agree that guns and alcohol do not mix?" Rep. Waites asked.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I don't know. At the Lord's supper, they had wine, " Meadows responded.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"According to the research, the American Academy of Pediatrics that treated over 7,300 children who were hospitalized due to gun wounds. They have offered a suggestion that our society would be much safer without guns. Would you not agree with that statement?" Rep. Waites asked.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"No I would not," Meadows said.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Studies have revealed that the frontal lobe of the brain which controls the higher thoughts and urges does not fully mature until twenty five or thirty. Thus, do you not agree that it would be reckless to place guns in the hands of children? Also would it not be reckless and dangerous on college campuses?” Rep. Frazier asked.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"You have to be twenty one to carry a gun... as far as the frontal lobe goes, I have no clue," Meadows said.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Georgia Carry, a guns-rights organization, is one of the major supporters of the bill. John Monroe, an attorney and vice-president of Georgia Carry, helped guide the Committee with changes on the bill after the hearing. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"This is an election year and I think this bill will pass. I think this is purely pandering to a minority of constituents who want this right [to carry guns everywhere]," Rep. Waites told APN.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Unfortunately, we have a large population of people who are mentally ill and are unstable who have concealed weapon permits. We have a large number of students who are young and immature,” Waites said.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I respect the author's intent… I don't think he understands the unintended consequences that will come about due to this bill," Waites told APN.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"The United States has more weapons and firearms than any country in the world. Yet, we have more violence than any country in the world. So when people say that more guns will make us safer, it's almost an oxymoron, it’s a ridiculous statement. They clearly don't make us safer. Other countries that have no guns don't have the violence and murders that we have," Waites explained to APN.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0pt 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Nine million Georgians are counting on us to make very serious decisions. I felt that we failed Georgia and let down our children," Rep. Waites said.</span></span></p></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">-----------------------------------</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Georgia House Bill 875</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/Display/20132014/HB/875">http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/Display/20132014/HB/875</a></span><br><br><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"There's room at the top they are telling you still.</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you want to be like the folks on the hill."</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- John Lennon</span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>