Arturo Garcia
Raw Story
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:12 CDT
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The town of Nelson, Georgia, followed through on its proposal to require residents to own a gun Monday night following a unanimous vote by the city council.

WGCL-TV reported that the law will apply to heads of household, with exceptions built in for the disabled, mentally ill and those objecting to gun ownership for religious reasons. Convicted felons will not be allowed to own a firearm.

"If anything should happen that they would need to use a firearm, [now] they are backed up by their government, their city government," council member Edith Portillo told the station.

However, according to the Associated Press, another council member, Duane Cronic, said the new "Family Protection Ordinance" will not be enforced, making it more of a symbolic gesture.

"I likened it to a security sign that people put up in their front yards," Cronic said. "Some people have security systems, some people don't, but they put those signs up. I really felt like this ordinance was a security sign for our city."

The new directive's non-binding nature, however, led to opposition from some residents during Monday's city council meeting.

"Does this mean now 55 miles an hour speed limit means 65, 80, whatever you choose," said Lamar Kellett. "There's not a whole lot of difference. A law's a law."

But the city's only police officer, Heath Mitchell, also lent his backing to the new law, despite Nelson already having a low crime rate, saying it would function as a deterrent.

"[Criminals are] going to think twice before they come into Nelson and cause harm or break and entering, commit a theft, any type of criminal activity," Mitchell said. "I know I would if I was a bad guy."

........and then there were two!

makes you feel safe in a safe zone, huh...

yep,where only Police and Thugs are allowed to carry!

gun control folks don't seem to understand they are helping the criminals by banning guns...

if they did,they probably wouldn't care!

Long, long overdue...mandatory gun ownership
But will the town council or the State offer the people guns for sale? Any bulk discounts? Will there planned bus trips to gun stores or armories for the townspeople? How about those in wheelchairs?
Logistics can be problematic when trying to comply with regulations from any town council...just wondering...

I think they should arrest anyone who does not own a gun and force them to take a class on the proper use of a gun, and then fine them if they do not comply and get a gun.

its SYMBOLIC,, they said felons and those who are OPPOSED dont have to own guns,,,,

I agree. I dont like guns in the hands of the untrained, or impulsive, or paranoid people

Im fine with those trained and disciplined in actual protection of people,,,,

The first town to require every household own a gun was in Florida. I don't remember the name but do remember that crime mysteriously dropped.

crime has dropped across the country, there is no clear indicator pointing to any one factor,,,,

Sorry, but it dropped in relationship to its surrounding neighbor cities.

Id love to hear more about it, my brother has lived there four decades and is not aware of any place where it is mandatory to own a gun

I do know the STATE Of florida enacted right to carry laws, and stand your ground laws, that people like to cite as evidence that gun ownerhip decreases crime,,,

I can't find it, I only remember reading about it. My memory might be faulty, I might be remembering Kennesaw Ga.

I found a 'belleview' which had a proposal in 2009 , but no news since that proposal

its another small town 5000 people, just like kennesaw was when it passed their law, so the law would pretty much be insignificant either way

smaller towns tend to naturally be lower in crime, people are closer, know each other better, etc,,,,

No, this one definitely passed and the news said crime went down significantly. I doubt if I would remember the name if I saw it. Like I said, it might be in GA.

Texas cities, on the other hand, are gearing up for school teachers ro carry guns. I'd much rather see cops in each school.

Id much rather we live up to what we could be, instead of continuing to sink down to what the worst of us are,,,,

but if people feel schools HAVE to have armed protection,, Id rather it be from professionals trained and DISCIPINED In the art of defending life,, and not just those on guard for when they can take one,,,,

yep,most likely it was Kennesaw!