The Georgia Senate kicked off the new legislative session by strengthening firearm rights across the state by passing Senate Bill 204, a measure that reinforces state-level preemption over gun laws. This bill ensures a prohibition on cities, counties and other local governments from enacting their own firearm restrictions, ensuring that firearm regulations remain uniform and consistent throughout Georgia. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Colton Moore (R-Trenton) expands existing state preemption to explicitly include regulations on gun “storage,” directly addressing local ordinances that impose additional burdens on law-abiding gun owners.
At its core, SB 204 builds on Georgia’s long-standing preemption framework, codified in state law, which already declares that firearm regulation is the exclusive domain of the General Assembly. Local entities are barred from regulating firearms “in any manner” beyond what state law allows. However, some municipalities have tested these boundaries. The bill’s passage comes largely in response to a controversial ordinance in Savannah, which penalized residents for leaving firearms in unattended vehicles unless they were securely stored (such as locked in a compartment or glove box). Violators currently face fines up to $1,000 and potential jail time of up to 30 days.
Proponents, including many Republican lawmakers and Second Amendment advocates argued that inconsistent patchwork regulations criminalize responsible gun ownership, and undermine the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Without preemption, a driver traveling across the state could unknowingly violate differing local rules, unfortunately creating the potential of turning everyday activities like running errands or commuting into legal risks. The bill also includes enforcement teeth: individuals fined under conflicting local ordinances could seek damages up to $25,000 from the municipality, or three times their legal expenses and attorney fees, whichever is greater. This provision specifically aims to deter future overreach like in other states (California and New York in particular) which continually rewrite gun laws following every major 2A legal decision.
The legislation protects the right to self-defense in practical ways. Georgia has made significant strides in recent years toward constitutional carry and stand-your-ground principles, recognizing that self-defense often occurs unexpectedly and may involve quick access to a firearm. Local storage mandates could hinder that readiness, particularly for women, single parents, or anyone in high-risk situations who relies on a vehicle-stored firearm for protection. By blocking such restrictions, the state ensures that Georgians’ ability to defend themselves doesn’t vary by ZIP code.
Critics, including Savannah Mayor Van Johnson and some Democratic lawmakers, have pushed back, arguing that local governments should have flexibility to address community-specific safety concerns, such as reducing accidental shootings or gun thefts from vehicles. Mayor Johnson stated that Savannah would comply with state law if the bill is signed but continues advocating for measures to curb preventable gun violence.
In typical “gun grabber” fashion, the Mayor stated “it’s a sad thing that the General Assembly says over 200 guns stolen from unlocked vehicles is OK,” while failing to offer solutions to why over 200 vehicles had been broken into to begin with.
Opponents question whether the ordinance truly conflicted with state preemption or if the bill represents unnecessary state intervention. A Chatham County judge had already ruled the Savannah ordinance unconstitutional in November 2025, where he stated that the ordinance “burdens conduct covered by the plain text of the Second Amendment.” Nevertheless, the Senate passed SB 204 along party lines (32-21), underscoring the Republican majority’s commitment to bolstering gun rights.
The bill now awaits action from Governor Brian Kemp, who had previously signed measures expanding permitless carry and other pro-gun reforms in prior sessions and is expected to sign it into law. His approval would solidify Georgia’s status as one of the most firearm-friendly states in the Southeast, aligning with a broader national trend where states increasingly limit local gun control to prevent “sanctuary” restrictions in liberal-leaning cities.
For Georgia residents, particularly those who value self-reliance and personal security, this is a victory for consistency and constitutional principles. It prevents a scenario where urban councils could erode rights that rural communities overwhelmingly support. In a state where hunting, sport shooting, and home defense are deeply ingrained, uniform laws foster trust in the system and encourage responsible firearm ownership without arbitrary local hurdles.
Ultimately, Senate Bill 204 reaffirms that firearm policy belongs at the state level under the framework established by the U.S. Constitution. As the bill heads to the governor’s desk, it stands as a reminder that Georgia continues to prioritize the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families, no matter where they live or travel within the Peach State.
Editor’s Note: The radical left will stop at nothing to enact their radical gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights, even as they start to see that maybe we had a point.
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