Students and faculty may soon be able to legally carry concealed firearms on public college campuses in Georgia.
Despite a contentious and emotional two-hour floor debate, the Georgia Senate passed HB 859, also known as the “campus carry” bill, by a 37-17 vote Friday. The legislation, now on its way to the desk of Gov. Nathan Deal, would permit carry license holders, who can already carry firearms most places off campus, to carry concealed handguns on public college or university campuses except in dormitories, athletic events, and fraternity or sorority houses.
If signed by the governor, who has previously expressed support for the NRA-backed bill, Georgia would become the ninth state to allow campus carry, alongside nearly two dozen others that allow individual schools to decide.
