Bill Text: GA HR341 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Celebratory gunfire; promote public awareness; urge
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-03-28 - House Passed/Adopted [HR341 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-HR341-Engrossed.html
11 HR 341/FA
House
Resolution 341 (AM)
By:
Representatives Henson of the
87th,
Benfield of the
85th,
Williams of the
89th,
Mosby of the
90th,
Oliver of the
83rd,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
efforts to promote an increase in public awareness of the dangers of celebratory
gunfire; urging state and local governments and law enforcement agencies to
better educate Georgians regarding the serious threat created by firing a weapon
into the air during a celebration; and committing to studying and adopting
tougher criminal sanctions for those who perform celebratory gunfire resulting
in injury or death to another person; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
each year in this country there are hundreds of thousands of calls to police
emergency numbers complaining of celebratory gunfire; and
WHEREAS,
during 2009 and 2010, one metro Atlanta county reported over 5,000 calls of
people discharging firearms on July 4 and December 31; and
WHEREAS,
the random discharge of any firearm in populated residential areas presents an
inherent danger of injury or death to nearby citizens; and
WHEREAS,
four year old Marquel Peters, who was killed by a stray bullet while sitting in
church on New Year's Day, is a tragic example of the inherent danger of
celebratory gunfire; and
WHEREAS,
current laws do not sufficiently address or deter this tremendous threat to
public safety, resulting in numerous incidents of injury, damage to property,
and loss of innocent life; and
WHEREAS,
now is the time for Georgia's leaders to come together and to work together to
help prevent the senseless loss like the loss of beautiful little Marquel
Peters.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that this body urges
both governmental and private entities to promote an increased public awareness
of the dangers of celebratory gunfire and further urges state and local
governments and law enforcement agencies to better educate Georgians regarding
the serious threat created by firing a weapon into the air during a
celebration.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in honor of Marquel Peters, this body is committed to
studying and adopting tougher criminal sanctions for those who commit
celebratory gunfire which results in injury or death to another
person.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the DeKalb
County Board of Commissioners and the mother of Marquel Peters.
