A Georgia gun owner has filed a lawsuit against the city of Savannah, challenging an ordinance that imposes fines and possible jail time for leaving guns inside unlocked cars. The ordinance was passed by the mayor and city council in April, with the aim of reducing gun thefts from vehicles. The gun owner’s attorney argues that the ordinance violates a state law that prohibits local governments from regulating firearms. The case has raised questions about the extent of cities’ authority to regulate gun safety in a state where gun laws are generally lax. The judge presiding over the case has yet to rule on the gun owner’s request to halt enforcement of the ordinance.
The gun owner, Clarence Belt, who lives in Jesup, Georgia, filed the lawsuit in May, citing difficulties in complying with the ordinance due to his disability. His lawyer argued in court that the ordinance should be voided because it goes against state law. The Georgia Attorney General has also weighed in on the issue, stating that local ordinances cannot regulate firearms. However, Savannah officials have defended the ordinance as a way to promote responsible gun ownership without infringing on gun owners’ rights. The city’s attorney argued that the ordinance primarily focuses on regulating the storage of guns in vehicles, rather than the firearms themselves.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, a former police officer, has been a vocal supporter of the city’s gun ordinance. He believes that the measure will help prevent gun thefts and make gun owners more accountable for their firearms. Despite legal challenges, the city has continued to enforce the ordinance, issuing citations and warnings to gun owners who leave their firearms in unlocked cars. The judge overseeing the case has expressed doubts about the gun owner’s legal standing to sue the city, given that he is not a resident of Savannah. However, the gun owner’s lawyer argues that the ordinance applies to both residents and visitors, and therefore his client has a right to challenge it.
The legal battle over Savannah’s gun ordinance could set a precedent for other cities in Georgia seeking to enact similar measures. The case raises important questions about the balance between individual gun rights and public safety concerns. Gun control advocates argue that such ordinances are necessary to prevent gun violence and theft, while gun rights advocates contend that they infringe on Second Amendment rights. The judge presiding over the case has acknowledged that the legal dispute could be lengthy and complex, with potential appeals to higher courts. Ultimately, the outcome of the case could have far-reaching implications for gun laws in Georgia and beyond.
