ATLANTA — For the second time in less than two weeks, Republican lawmakers have passed legislation that would let Georgians carry a concealed handgun without first getting a license from the state.
State representatives approved House Bill 1358 on a 94-57 vote along party lines on Friday, with Republicans voting in favor of the measure. Republican state senators passed a similar piece of legislation, Senate Bill 319, less than two weeks ago, also on a party-line vote.
“We need to protect ourselves,” said HB 1358′s sponsor, House Juvenile Justice Chairwoman Mandi Ballinger, R-Canton. “And this bill allows us to do so without having to pay money to the government to do it.”
