On Wednesday, Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law House Bill 60, legislation that protects law-abiding, licensed Georgia citizens’ Second Amendment rights.

“For decades now I have staunchly defended our Second Amendment rights as both a legislator and as governor,” said Deal. “This legislation will protect the constitutional rights of Georgians who have gone through a background check to legally obtain a Georgia Weapons Carry License. Roughly 500,000 Georgia citizens have a permit of this kind, which is approximately 5 percent of our population. License holders have passed background checks and are in good standing with the law. This law gives added protections to those who have played by the rules – and who can protect themselves and others from those who don’t play by the rules.

“Our nation’s founders put the right to bear arms on par with freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Georgians cherish their Second Amendment rights, and this law embodies those values.”

Deal also signed the following bills today:

• SB 299, legislation that requires local governments to submit a watershed protection plan to the Department of Natural Resources. The watershed protection standards and procedures for buffer areas along streams and reservoirs included in the plan must comply with the minimum protections, including state-imposed buffer areas, as they relate to land-disturbing activities.
• SB 392, legislation that allows former military motor vehicles to be registered and titled. This bill also revises the time period to which any Class D license holder may drive a Class C motor vehicle.
• HB 741, legislation that allows more public input into sludge land applications. The bill will require a sludge land applicant to provide written verification to Georgia EPD to ensure that the proposed site complies with all local zoning or land use ordinances. Additionally, this bill will require Georgia EPD to hold public hearings for permits within the jurisdiction of the governing authority where the proposed site is located, giving citizens the opportunity to stay informed regarding actions that are affecting their community.   
• HB 777, legislation that enacts the Interstate Boating Violator Compact, an agreement between at least two states that allows the home state to treat a boating conviction of one of its residents in another state as if the conviction had occurred in the home state. It also authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to suspend a person’s privilege to operate a vessel for violations of vessel laws of this state and other states.