Dear Cherokee County: the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is immune to the Coronavirus.
In the latest skirmish between the Second Amendment and the excuses for infringing upon it offered by COVID-19, the Second Amendment Foundation and Firearms Policy Coalition recently announced that they’re suing Cherokee County, Georgia and Probate Court Judge Keith Wood. The case, known as Walters v. Kemp, alleges that Wood, along with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp along with Public Safety Commissioner Gary Vowell and the county, violated the constitutional rights of citizens by ordering that the county would not accept applications for Weapons Carry Licenses during the Coronavirus outbreak.
SAF and FPC filed the action in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, on behalf of one of their members, Lisa Walters. According to the 16-page federal complaint, Walters’ husband contacted the probate court several days ago to inquire about her ability to obtain a carry license. The county informed Walters’ husband that the order to not accept license applications will remain in effect.
“This is the most recent in a series of legal actions we’ve had to file around the country,” noted SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb, “because we’ve discovered that some officials have arbitrarily decided the COVID-19 crisis allows them to suspend the Constitutional rights of the citizens they serve. We’ve been stunned by this pattern because such actions are not permitted by the Constitution. Authorities may not, by decree or otherwise, enact or enforce a suspension or deprivation of constitutional liberties.”
Lawsuits such as this one are turning out to be among the best on-the-ground strategies for striking back at these unprecedented grabs at Americans’ constitutional freedoms. Legislation–particularly during a time when legislators are being isolated from their constituents by social-distancing policies–is far too slow. Natually, lawsuits such as these cost money…but you can support them right now, for free, by entering our Second Amendment, First Defense $2K Guns & Gear Giveaway!
From now through midnight EST on May 9, we’re giving away a beautiful lever-action Henry Rifle and a sweet-shooting Glock G43 from Rainier Arms–along with all the gear you’ll need to keep ’em running–to one very lucky winner. Your entry benefits the Second Amendment Foundation in their fight against these country-wide infringements.
The Second Amendment, First Defense Giveaway highlights one basic truth: The 2A applies to all firearms, regardless of when they were designed! The Henry lever rifle that we’re giving away is based on Henry’s famous Golden Boy platform, with a 20-inch octagonal blued barrel and American walnut furniture, chambered in .22 S/L/LR. It boasts a magazine capacity of 16 rounds, and is clad with Henry’s iconic brass sideplates. The sideplates are engraved to represent the quill-and-ink signing of the Bill of Rights, focusing on the text of the Second Amendment that SAF is dedicated to preserving. The rifle has an MSRP of $1,200. The Glock G43, a single-stack 9mm that the public first met in 2015, is the modern sidearm that the Founding Fathers wish they’d had at their side while the Redcoats were still sniffing about.
“The natural right to armed self-defense does not cease to exist when a person steps over the threshold of their home and into the outside world,” observed Adam Kraut, FPC’s Director of Legal Strategy. “By their elimination of access to Georgia Weapons Carry Licenses, Judge Keith Wood and Cherokee County have destroyed the right to carry handguns outside the home for Lisa Walters and others like her. This is not acceptable and shows the inherent and terminally unconstitutional defects of the State’s license requirements.”
Scott Boyer says
I was told the same thing when I went to renew mine last month. It expires today BUT I was told that it was still good until the FAKE PANDEMIC is over.
I’m in Barrow county and I thought about that CCW permit that is supposed to be good in 27 different states and costs $60 but I figured that it’s worthless. Can you tell me whether it is or not?
Firewagon says
It continues to be a frustrating conundrum for gun owners in Georgia. The last two Governors, Kemp and Deal, have been ‘Republicans’ and postured as conservatives. They both ‘mouthed’ support for that dastardly 2nd Amendment, yet did NOTHING, and so far has DONE NOTHING, to enhance Georgia’s citizenry’s ability to exercise their rights thereunder!
Georgia should join with the 16-20 other states that have enacted ‘Constitutional Carry!’ At a minimum, Georgia should ELIMINATE that egregious, unconstitutional, FEE that is charged for that ‘unconstitutional’ requirement to obtain a license to carry in exercising OUR rights under that Amendment! My first license was about $15, with so many restrictions on ‘where you could carry’ that it was almost useless. Since then, some of those restrictions have been eased or removed; however, that FEE has risen exponentially to $80 plus!!
Except for the likely INFRINGING creep, which occurs on a near-daily basis, I am not that opposed to my state wanting to screen people desiring to carry a concealed weapon. The state’s desire to assure the citizenry that unstable people or felons, etc., will not legally be allowed arms may be appropriate. That “feel good” requirement, however, SHOULD NOT have ANY fee attached to obtain it!
tim downey says
I was denied renewal of my ccw permit because as a cancer patient I have a medical cannabis card ?
Paul says
Well that is a choice you will have to make, if you still have a choice at this point. Be happy they didn’t come to your house and seize all your weapons!
Edward Allen says
This isn’t the only lawsuit in Georgia.
Georgia Carry has also filed a lawsuit for the same reason. On April 13th, they filed suit against Hall County and Gov Kemp for another citizen.
Georgia Carry is very quick to file cases that impact the people of the state of Georgia. That is why we have more freedom than California does.