ATLANTA (March 12, 2013) – Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) received a “True” rating by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Politifact team on her statement during a floor debate on Senate Bill 101, which increases the risk of gun violence.
Sen. Orrock, responding to the tragedy of the shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School, champions gun safety laws in Georgia. To substantiate her argument against SB 101 she said, “More than 80 percent of Americans believe we need to have universal background checks.”
SB 101 would allow veterans as young as 18 years old that have not been dishonorably discharged from service to obtain a gun carry permit. Current Georgia law prohibits gun permits for people younger than 21 years of age. This legislation would also allow guns in public housing, unless a ban is required by federal law. A state database of gun license holders is expressly prohibited by this bill.
Polls conducted by the Pew Research Center, CBS News and The New York Times, Fox News, CNN and others found that more than 85 percent of Americans support background checks for gun buyers. A February poll concluded that 91 percent of Georgians support mandatory background checks for all gun buyers, according to Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Unfortunately, SB 101 passed the Senate with a vote of 41-10 and is now being considered by the House of Representatives.
“I will continue to fight SB 101 and HB 512. Both of these bills recklessly expand the conditions and places where guns can be carried in our state, increasing the potential for gun violence, lost lives and needless tragedy,” said Sen. Orrock. “Lawmakers had the chance to address gun safety in a meaningful way, but chose not to take action on SB 146, which I co-sponsored with Senator Vincent Fort. SB 146 would have banned the possession of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in Georgia. The shooter of children in Newtown used this type of weaponry, and the world stands witness to the carnage of that tragic event. The public must surely ask why legislators are turning a deaf ear to the wishes of Georgians to live, work and send their children to school, free from the fear of gun violence.”
RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 13, 2013
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Interim Director
Kate Greer, Broadcast Specialist
Kate.Greer@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028