Every homeowner in a local town could soon have to own a gun or break the law. It's a controversial new plan for the city of Nelson.
Leaders told Channel 2's John Bachman the reason they need the law is because the city straddles Cherokee county to the south and Pickens County to the north.
That, they said, can lead to slower response times.
One police officer patrols Nelson, Georgia for eight hours during the day. That leaves 16 hours overnight when the city is basically unguarded.
"When he's not here we rely on county sheriffs--however it takes a while for them to get here," said Nelson City Councilman Duane Cronic.
That's why Cronic proposed the ordinance.
"Every head of household will own and maintain a firearm," he said.
Bill McNiff lives in Nelson, carries a pistol and supports the law.
"I think every city should do it. I think it should go countywide too," McNiff said.
The Nelson ordinance is modeled closely after the 1982 law passed in Kennesaw.
It requires gun ownership, but allows several outs, like if you're not physically or mentally able to handle a gun, or if you're a felon or have religious objections.
"It's a deterrent ordinance," Cronic said. "It tells the potential intruder you better think twice."
"Why have an ordinance if you're not going to enforce it? What's the point? They just want publicity to say Nelson is a town full of weapons," Nelson resident Lamar Kellett said.
Kellett isn't opposed to having guns, just having the government tell him he has to do it.
"This is big government at its worst. Government mandating what a free individual can and will have in his home," Kellett said.
City leaders could make the proposal law at the next council meeting, which is April 1.
City looks to make gun ownership mandatory | www.wsbtv.com
Posted: 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2013
What would people think of MANDATORY exercise of the second amendment ??
City looks to make gun ownership mandatory | www.wsbtv.com
Posted: 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2013
What would people think of MANDATORY exercise of the second amendment ??
City looks to make gun ownership mandatory | www.wsbtv.com
Posted: 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2013
What would people think of MANDATORY exercise of the second amendment ??
Forcing people to buy things on the theory that it'll make their lives better?
Sounds unconstitutional to me.
It will never pass muster.
City looks to make gun ownership mandatory | www.wsbtv.com
Posted: 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2013
What would people think of MANDATORY exercise of the second amendment ??
City looks to make gun ownership mandatory | www.wsbtv.com
Posted: 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2013
What would people think of MANDATORY exercise of the second amendment ??
Such law has not been struck down yet.
Kennesaw, Georgia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In 1982 the city passed an ordinance [Sec 34-21][SUP][17][/SUP]
(a) In order to provide for the emergency management of the city, and further in order to provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants, every head of household residing in the city limits is required to maintain a firearm, together with ammunition therefore.
(b)Exempt from the effect of this section are those heads of households who suffer a physical or mental disability which would prohibit them from using such a firearm. Further exempt from the effect of this section are those heads of households who are paupers or who conscientiously oppose maintaining firearms as a result of beliefs or religious doctrine, or persons convicted of a felony.
LOL - a town where every dumb**** idiot is required to own a firearm is one town I wouldn't want to live in. I'd rather stay here - where only people who are interested in said right and responsibility have said firearms.
The possibility that most people have them is what keeps our crime so low.
If its mandatory then it really can't be considered a right.I do not think people should be forced to own a gun.If someone wants a gun then that his business and no one else, if someone does not want a gun then that is still his business and no one else.
It does not mandate that it be loaded, carried or fired. No worse than PPACA.
City looks to make gun ownership mandatory | www.wsbtv.com
Posted: 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2013
What would people think of MANDATORY exercise of the second amendment ??
Are they giving them away for free
No, but at least they exempted the poor and anyone that does not want to buy one (the law allows for conscientious objection). It is more of a please do this law than an outright unfunded mandate.
so - passing it was really a waste of taxpayer dollars?The queen of England of ordinances.
What would people think of MANDATORY exercise of the second amendment ??
The same thing I think of mandatory exercise of the First.
Just because I'm free to own a newspaper that prints whatever I want it to doesn't mean I have to.
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