Georgia Town Ordering Gun Ownership Undaunted by Massacre

[xchrom]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-21/georgia-town-ordering-gun-ownership-undaunted-by-massacre.html

Kennesaw, Georgia, is a quiet Atlanta suburb of newer subdivisions and strip malls around a huddle of older homes and storefronts. It is asking churches to ring their bells 26 times today for the victims of last week’s elementary school massacre in Connecticut.

And it has no plans to change a law requiring residents to own guns.

No town in the U.S. has been as public about its support for guns as Kennesaw, population about 30,000, where city leaders for 30 years have required that every household have at least one gun. The Dec. 14 killings of 20 children and six adults, the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, has done little to change that, residents say in interviews.

Most called President Barack Obama’s push to tighten gun restrictions worrisome at best and a conspiracy at worst, exemplifying resistance to such controls in the South.

there really is something in the water...

[Laurian]

1. I live in Kennesaw. We don't have a gun. I think that this theory about lack of

violent crime being attributed to the law requiring each home to own a gun is a myth. There are lots of people here who don't own a gun and there are lots of other reasons the crime rate is low. Truly a middle class suburb of Atlanta with a family atmosphere. I'm sure there are other communities around the country with similar demographics and no law requiring each household to have a gun that have similarly low crime statistics.

[msongs]

2. "family atmosphere" - thanks for the advance warning nt

[Laurian]

5. Not sure I understand your comment....

By family atmosphere, I just mean that it's primarily a residential community.

[Glitterati]

3. You left this out from the article

It was also unenforceable on its face. Anyone who says they are morally opposed to guns is exempt. So is anyone who can’t afford to buy one.

[Phentex]

4. But that doesn't sound as militant as the word ordering!

I lived there for five years and was never ordered to own a gun. We chuckled about that law. I put it up there with the ones that say you can't put an alligator in a bath tub and that sort of thing.

I also never felt it was an unsafe area either.

Then we moved to Atlanta and there was a crack house behind ours. I still didn't feel the need to own a gun.

The crack house is gone and petty crime is still here and I still don't need to own a gun.

[xchrom]

6. You found me out!

Next time I won't provide the link so people can read the stuff I don't want them to.

Foiled again!

[Glitterati]

7. I am as anti-gun as you, but

please be honest when you portray the facts you wish to use. You simply negate ALL of our arguments when you attempt to deceive.

Kennesaw, GA is just a bunch of red neck idiots. No different than any other town in my state. Everytime you post this garbage, you just encourage another gun owning, gun carrying idiot to buy a house there.

In addition, you divert attention from the communities down the street like mine, where knuckle dragging gun owners are very likely to pull a Newtown.

You do us no favors.

Please give those of us fighting so hard to make a difference some help.

[xchrom]

10. I'm not trying to do you a favor.

I'm posting a link - and making a comment
On what seems to be a thread of thought in that community.

How did that ordinance pass if people didn't believe it should be so?

[Glitterati]

13. City council

That's how it passed. This is a one horse town in Georgia. The city council are kings and queens. What they say goes. Period.

It's a CITY ordinance.

In 1982 the city of Kennesaw passed an ordinance [Sec 34-21] that read:

(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.

[xchrom]

14. I'm sure you mean something by that.

The city council, I'm going out on a limb - are elected?

[Glitterati]

20. What I mean by that is...

you should probably stay away from topics you know nothing about.

[Glitterati]

8. THIS is what should scare us

Proposals would lift restrictions on carrying guns in Georgia
By Kristina Torres

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

An incoming freshman House Republican from Kennesaw has become the first since the Connecticut shootings to propose an expansion of gun rights in Georgia.

State Rep.-elect Charles Gregory, who campaigned heavily on the Second Amendment and limited government power, filed four gun bills this week at the Capitol that would sweep away any restrictions on carrying firearms in Georgia — including on college campuses and in churches.

House Bills 26, 27, 28 and 29 would declare that “evil resides in the heart of the individual, not in material objects,” and would also bar the governor from suspending gun sales during an emergency.

It’s a splashy public entrance for Gregory in advance of the next legislative session, which starts Jan. 14. The bills, however, have not been vetted by leadership and are likely to go nowhere on their own. A spokesman for House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said it would be inappropriate to comment on the issue while victims were still being buried in Newtown, Conn.

The bills follow the failure in the state House during this past year’s legislative session of a sweeping proposal to allow Georgians to carry concealed weapons on college campuses, in bars, public schools, most government buildings and other locations.
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/proposals-would-lift-restrictions-on-carrying-guns/nTcFF/

[Hugabear]

9. Requiring people to have guns is ok, but healthcare isn't?

Nice to see these idiots have their priorities straight.

[JDPriestly]

17. A gun in my household would be a danger to me.

If I couldn't find my glasses, I would not be able to find the gun. Anyone entering my home would probably see it quite easily. I do not want a gun in my home.

[raccoon]

19. Wouldn't it be nice if this country gave healthcare the same importance as gun "rights?" nt

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

11. I've been to the website for this city

and can't find this law any where.........

[Glitterati]

12. Here ya go

In 1982 the city of Kennesaw passed an ordinance [Sec 34-21] that read:

(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.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

15. Ok

except do you have the link to the website?

[Glitterati]

18. I found it on a right wing site

which is why I didn't include the link.

Needless to say, the rightwing gun nuts love Kennesaw, and love to shove it down our throats every time this discussion comes up.

You really won't find links to the city ordinances online, though. Not in Georgia.

City councils are little fiefdoms; folks who have been in office for decades.

The mayor of my town is 80+ and been in office for more than 40 years.

on edit:
The true politicians in Georgia counties are county commissions. That's where the wars and elections are won and lost. Cities and city councils are Mayberry RFD.

The Cobb County Commission controls Kennesaw.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

21. but if its not on the city website

how do we know the law really exists?

[Glitterati]

22. Call the mayor

and ask.

[JDPriestly]

16. Every household -- does that include the households of extremely nearsighted people?

I would be a danger to the world if I had a gun. If I misplace my glasses, anything can happen.

What a nutty idea.