The Peach State has joined seven other states—Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin—in choosing to offer students at institutions of higher learning, who are licensed to carry a firearm for self-defense, the ability to protect themselves. On Thursday, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed House Bill 280, a critical piece of campus-carry legislation, into law.
A statement released by the governor reads in part: “Unfortunately, in parts of the state, the path to higher education travels through dangerous territory. At the present time, assailants can, and do, target these students knowing full well that their victims are not permitted to carry protection, even those who are weapons carry license holders, because they are either going to or coming from a campus where no weapons are allowed.”
Although HB 280 exempts areas including dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses, and faculty and administrative space, the bill’s passage represents a hard-earned victory for gun-rights activists. Campus carry legislation will take effect on July 1.
