By Maggie Lee / Staff

A bill that would allow licensed concealed weapons in more places passed its first subcommittee vote, modified just enough to make its number one opponent grudgingly give up the fight.

Senate Bill 308, modified in committee, still opens lots of places like churches and sports arenas to people legally carrying licensed concealed weapons.  But to quiet outcry from the higher education lobby, universities will be able to make rules against on-campus guns.

"As you know, policy, rules, regulations are trumped by state law," sighed Tom Daniel, senior vice chancellor for the University System of Georgia. "We have agreed to disagree."

The new bill would shift the job of issuing concealed weapons licenses to the Secretary of State, away from county Probate Courts.  A centralized issuer, said sponsor Rep. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg) will be able to catch licensees who need to have licenses revoked for subsequent crimes or mental health issues.

 
As the system is now, according to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Probate Courts don't always receive the data they would need to revoke a license.  And the revised bill still can't catch mental health problems handled via private care.

Similar to the Regents, the Secretary of State's office is not actively fighting the bill, but it's lukewarm at best.

"If this is the will of the body, we'll do it without complaints," testified an agency lobbyist.

The bill is scheduled for Monday floor debate.  If it passes, it could move to the House.  Alternatively, there is a House bill that matches it closely enough that a reconciliation committee is possible.