What are our legislative leaders up to? Let’s look at what Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg), the majority whip in the Senate, is introducing in the way of public safety legislation.
Seabaugh and the Senate majority leader, Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock), have rolled out legislation that would make it legal to carry guns in a wider variety of public places and would make it easier for persons with criminal records and mental patients to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. I kid you not.
Seabaugh’s bill would repeal the current prohibitions in state law against carrying firearms in public places such as sporting events, political rallies, non-secured portions of airports and bars. The bill would allow weapons to be carried at K-12 schools and college campuses (except for dormitories). The only prohibitions against carrying firearms would be in a government building, courtroom, jail, prison, or college residential housing.
Seabaugh said persons with permits would be allowed to carry weapons at the state capitol in general, but could not take those weapons into government agencies at the capitol such as the secretary of state’s office or the legislative chambers.
The bill would allow persons with a criminal background to obtain a gun permit if they have been “free of conviction” of any other offense for at least 10 years since their criminal violation. Mental patients would be allowed to apply for permits five years after their hospitalization.
Seabaugh and Rogers said they were not concerned that people with criminal records would be allowed to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon under the proposed legislation.
“That list of prohibitions against people who can receive a license really needs to be updated,” Rogers said. “You have some prohibitions on there that shouldn’t be on there.”
When asked by a reporter if he was concerned that the bill would allow weapons to be carried in bars that serve alcoholic drinks, Seabaugh said: “I’ll let the property owner make that decision.”
He added that he also supported the idea of allowing firearms to be carried into any government offices. “Personally, I don’t have a problem with it,” Seabaugh said. He characterized public concerns about the bill as “misconceived hysteria.”
Here’s the punchline: Seabaugh calls his proposed legislation “the common-sense lawful carry act.”
Seabaugh’s description, of course, is erroneous. This bill is located about as far from common sense as you can be and still remain within the confines of the Milky Way galaxy. It is full-blown, skull-bending craziness. It is just about the most ill-conceived legislation ever introduced in the General Assembly by someone whose name isn’t Bobby Franklin.
It probably is not a surprise that one of the bill’s supporters, Rogers, has plans to run for governor some day.
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