A Georgia gun owner's lawsuit against a Savannah city ordinance has been dismissed by Chatham County Superior Court Judge Benjamin Karpf. The ordinance in question imposes fines and potential jail time for individuals who leave firearms inside unlocked cars.
The judge's ruling did not directly address the argument that the Savannah ordinance violates a Georgia state law prohibiting local governments from regulating guns. Instead, the case was dismissed on the grounds that the gun owner lacked legal standing to sue the city as he was not a Savannah resident and had not violated the ordinance.
In April, Savannah's mayor and city council unanimously passed the ordinance outlawing the storage of firearms in unlocked vehicles. The law aims to deter gun thefts, with penalties of up to a $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail for violators. Local police data showed over 200 guns were reported stolen in 2023 from unlocked vehicles.
The city officials enacted the ordinance as an attempt to address gun safety concerns in a state where gun restrictions have been significantly reduced by Republican lawmakers.
The gun owner's attorney argued that the ordinance contradicted state law, which prohibits local governments from regulating firearms. Despite warnings from Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, the city proceeded with enforcing the ordinance.
The attorney representing the city argued that the ordinance focused on regulating vehicle security rather than firearms themselves.
The gun owner, who resides in Jesup, Georgia, expressed difficulties complying with the ordinance due to mobility issues and manual car locks. The decision on whether to appeal the judge's ruling is pending.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, a former police officer, supported the ordinance as a measure to promote responsible gun ownership while respecting individuals' rights to possess firearms.
While the legal battle continues, the debate over local gun regulations in Georgia remains ongoing.
