Savannah faces potential lawsuits over gun ordinance after Georgia bill heads to Governor Kemp’s desk

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -Georgia residents fined under Savannah’s gun ordinance can now potentially sue the city for up to $25,000 plus attorney fees after the state legislature passed a bill targeting the local law.

The legislation was the first major bill to pass the state senate and be sent to Governor Brian Kemp this year. It allows people to sue if they were fined for violating the ordinance that punishes gun owners who leave loaded firearms in unlocked vehicles.

“We’re not surprised,” said Savannah Mayor Van Johnson.

Ordinance reduced gun thefts by 30%

Savannah passed the gun ordinance in 2024 to reduce gun thefts in the city. Mayor Johnson said it resulted in a 30% decrease since the ordinance was introduced.

“The fact was that this ordinance that regulated the car worked,” Johnson said.

The maximum punishment under the city ordinance was $1,000 and 30 days in jail. Under the new state law, people can sue the city for $25,000 plus attorney fees.

Democrat State Senator Derek Mallow who lives in Savannah, voted against the bill, siding with Mayor Johnson.

“The city of Savannah is regulating the car, not the gun owner,” Mallow said. “We’re not trying to infringe on anybody’s second amendment rights. What we’re asking people to do is basically be a responsible gun owner.”

Republican sponsor says ordinance criminalizes gun owners

Republican state Sen. Colton Moore, who introduced the bill, said the city ordinance punishes gun owners rather than regulating cars.

“There are 41 Georgians in Savannah who were victims of a crime, who have now been made criminals because some municipality like Savannah has passed gun legislation that is more stringent than what this general assembly has already passed,” Moore said.

Mayor Johnson said the legislature is viewing the ordinance from a statewide perspective rather than considering his city’s specific needs.

“Instead of looking at it from a 30-thousand foot view, looks at it from the eyes of people like me who goes to crime scenes where we see guns have been acquired illegally or suicides where guns have been acquired illegally or little kids who shoot themselves or bring guns to school that have been acquired illegally, and then they can understand why we’re dealing with here,” Johnson said.

People eligible to sue are those who have been fined within a year of the date they file suit. The bill will look to be signed once this year’s legislative session ends rather than being sent immediately to the governor’s desk.

Mayor Johnson told the AP that Savannah will comply if Governor Kemp signs the bill, but in the meantime is exploring other options to keep Savannah’s streets safe.