Georgia Bill to Ban and Confiscate Guns

Georgia Democrats have introduced legislation that would make the possession and sale of “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines” a felony offense that would necessitate seizure by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Georgia HB-731, sponsored by Democrats Mary Margaret Oliver, Carolyn Hugley, Pat Gardiner, Stacey Abrams, Dar’shun Kendrick and Dee Dawkins-Haiglerwas, was unveiled Jan. 11. On Oliver’s website the bill is touted as a “debate [that] Georgia needs…about these weapons which are only used for rapidly killing people. Assault weapons are not necessary for deer hunting.”

In addition to banning magazines that hold more than ten rounds and a laundry list of rifles, handguns, and shotguns, the bill conspires to prohibit “armor-piercing bullets, and incendiary .50 caliber bullets,” and to “provide for enhanced penalties for the possession and use of machine guns.”

While legislator seeking to ban scary-looking firearms and magazines that hold more than ten rounds in the name of public safety is nothing new, calling for outright seizure of such weapons is a bold move. Their aim is not to cut down on crime—no one uses .50 caliber incendiary rounds for petty theft—it is to criminalize gun ownership.

See Also: Proposed California Gun Control Bill to Ban Bullet Button

Since this doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in Hell of passing—this is the state that approved of the “guns everywhere” bill two years ago—the least we can do is thank these Democrats for being partially honest: they don’t want you to have these firearms and they are willing to use the full force of government to take them from you. And, according to the bill, the punishment is severe.

“No person shall possess, distribute, transport, transfer, or sell any assault weapon,” the bill reads. “Any person who distributes, transports, or imports an assault weapon into this state shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two nor more than ten years.”

“Any person who possesses a large capacity magazine on or after January 1, 2017, that was obtained by such person prior to July 1, 2016, shall be fined not more than $100 for a first offense and shall be guilty of a felony for any subsequent offense,” the bill reads. “Any person who possesses a large capacity magazine on or after January 1, 2017, that was obtained by such person on or after July 1, 2016, shall be guilty of a felony.”

The bill even has a provision to cover if your “assault weapon” is somehow legally owned: any person who fails to report a stolen legal assault weapon to the GBI within 72 hours “shall be fined not more than $90 for the first offense and shall be guilty of a felony for any subsequent offense.”

This is the first step toward the left openly stating that they would approve of gun seizure. Luckily, for now, Georgia has a governor and citizens that have demonstrated they will stand for gun rights.

(Editor’s note: This article was a submission from freelance writer Mike Doran)