Governor Kemp vetoes SB 204 addressing Savannah gun ordinance

ATLANTA, Ga. (WTOC) - Governor Brian Kemp has vetoed a senate bill that would overturn Savannah’s 2024 gun ordinance.

Under Mayor Van Johnson, the 2024 ordinance calls for a $1,000 fine and potential jail time for leaving guns in unlocked vehicles. The goal of the measure was to reduce gun thefts and crime.

Georgia Senate Bill 204 directly opposes Savannah’s ordinance. And it allows citizens to sue local governments over such rules if they are fined for a violation.

The measure passed the Georgia House and Senate earlier this year, but on Tuesday Governor Kemp decided not to sign the bill into law.

In his veto message, the governor says:

Senate Bill 204 would strengthen the existing cause of action lawful gun owners may bring against a local government that attempts to impose limits on possession, ownership, transport, or purchase of firearms beyond state and federal requirements. In addition to increasing the statutory damages available, the bill would remove the existing requirement that such a lawsuit be brought against the county or municipal corporation that enacted the offending ordinance. This would open the door to lawsuits against law enforcement officers, including in their personal capacity, who do not have a say in enacting the ordinance in question. I wholeheartedly support increasing the monetary penalties for local governments that attempt to impede the rights of lawful weapon carriers; however, such penalties should be targeted towards the leaders who enact such ordinances, not the officers who are tasked with enforcing them. For the foregoing reasons, I VETO SENATE BILL 204.