February 10, 2004, The fifteenth legislative day of the 2004 session of the Georgia General Assembly.

We had gotten through about a third of the session with no problems and then Rep. Barbara Mobley, (D-Decatur) introduced House Bill 1380, the “Assault Weapons Protection Act”.  Sorry, folks, she isn’t out to protect assault weapons.

The definitions in the bill parrot the usual anti-gun propaganda, showing that Ms. Mobley doesn’t understand firearms and that she doesn’t know what an assault weapon is.

The bill as introduced may be seen at 

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/sum/hb1380.htm

Click on the version at the bottom of the list.  As it moves through the legislative process and changes are made, the latest will be in the bottom version.

As it is currently printed there appear to be no other sponsors. 

Ms. Mobley lives in the area SE of Candler and McAfee, north of I-20.  Residents of that area, please write to Rep. Mobley at

402 Legislative Office Bldg.
Capitol Square
Atlanta, GA 30334

Her office phone is 404-656-5087

Her email address is bmobley@legis.state.ga.us

Everyone else, please contact your district representative.  His/her address and phone can be found at www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/house/members_by_name.htm

You can find your Representative by entering your ZIP+4 number at 
www.vote-smart.org/index.htm

Please point out to your Representative that HB 1380 is directly aimed at rifle, pistol, skeet and trap shooters.  Also at hunters, casual target shooters and those who keep a firearm for home protection.

The criminal element at whom she hopes to direct this law are, unfortunately, criminals.  And by definition, criminals do not obey laws.  The only persons who will be affected by this legislation will be law-abiding citizens.

The mechanical devices listed and defined in the proposed legislation do not make a firearm any more effective in perpetrating a crime.  She says, “Semiautomatic assault weapons are military-style guns designed to quickly kill large numbers of people. The shooter can simply point, rather than carefully aim, the weapon to quickly spray a wide area with a hail of bullets.”  What we need is better education about firearms and firearm safety early in life.

All of us know this is foolish legislation and we think that anyone else will realize it’s foolish.  Don’t count on it.  There are too many who will look at this “feel good” legislation and fall for the “If it saves just one life” line.  The more important count is how many lives are saved every day, not from shots fired from firearms such as those defined in HB 1380, but by the sure and certain knowledge by the criminal element that such firearms are likely to be faced in the course of the next criminal act.

We need a Protection From Criminal Assault Bill.

Please contact your State Representative and make your opinion known.  An email or a phone call will take less than 5 minutes.  A letter will take a little longer and do more good.  Protect the guy down the street – don’t wait for him to protect you – he won’t.

Bill Davis
Vice President, Political Action
GSSA