Mayor Van Johnson defends Savannah gun ordinance results as state bill advances

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Mayor Van Johnson said he expected the Georgia legislature to challenge Savannah’s gun storage ordinance and remains focused on keeping residents safe, despite a state bill that would nullify the local law.

The Georgia Senate passed a bill that would override Savannah’s 2024 ordinance requiring firearms to be securely stored in vehicles. Under the new measure, anyone cited under the city ordinance could sue for $25,000 plus attorney fees, and cities can no longer regulate gun storage.

“We’re not surprised. We expected it fully. Actually, we thought it would happen last year,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the ordinance was designed to prevent gun thefts without infringing on the right to own or carry firearms. The mayor and Savannah’s city council voted unanimously in 2024 to make it harder for criminals to steal guns, with penalties of up to $1,000 and 30 days in jail.

According to city data that Johnson cited, gun thefts from vehicles dropped from 230 in 2023 to 131 in 2024, a nearly 30 percent decrease, with a corresponding reduction in violent crime.

“One thing we know is that there are almost 100 less guns on the streets. We believe that is possibly 100 less murders, 100 less suicides that occurred on Savannah streets because we had that ordinance by simply asking people to lock their cars if they have a gun in it,” Johnson said.

Georgia law already prohibits cities from regulating firearm possession, ownership, transport, carrying, transfer, sale, purchase, or licensing. Savannah officials have long said they were only regulating storage, something the law didn’t explicitly forbid, until state lawmakers added that word to clarify restrictions.

Republican lawmaker Colton Moore, who introduced the bill, believes they aren’t regulating cars, but punishing gun owners.

“You can travel the state freely knowing that you’re not going to be a victim of a crime and then be made a criminal as we’ve seen in Savannah Georgia” Moore said.

Democratic lawmaker Derek Mallow said “the city overwhelmingly supports the Second Amendment but they also believe public safety is at risk when guns are stolen from unlocked cars.”

Democratic leader withdraws support

Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II removed his name from Senate Bill 204 after it was amended to target Savannah’s ordinance.

“The original intent of this legislation was to modernize certain criminal charging procedures so district attorneys could better protect the people they serve. It was never intended to limit the ability of local governments to make public safety decisions for their own communities,” Jones said Monday.

Jones said the language prohibiting local governments from regulating firearm storage “represents a clear departure from the bill’s original purpose.”

“Cities and local jurisdictions should have the authority to determine the best way to keep their residents safe, including the appropriate oversight of the purchase, ownership, storage and sale of firearms,” Jones said.

Mayor emphasizes local perspective

Johnson emphasized the local perspective that lawmakers may not see.

“Instead of looking at it from a 30,000 foot view, look at it from the eyes of people like me in cities who go to crime scenes,” said the mayor.

“Where we see guns that have been acquired illegally or suicides where guns have been acquired illegally, or kids who shoot themselves and bring guns to school, from guns that have been acquired illegally.”

Johnson told the Associated Press that Savannah will comply if Governor Kemp signs the bill, but stresses the city remains committed to protecting residents and will explore other safety measures to keep Savannah’s streets safe.