Bill Text: GA SR1 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

---

Bill Title: State and Local Governments; urged to promote public awareness of dangers of celebratory gunfire

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-02-23 - Senate Passed/Adopted [SR1 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-SR1-Introduced.html

---

11 LC 35 1980

Senate Resolution 1

By: Senators Butler of the 55th, Seay of the 34th, Brown of the 26th, Carter of the 42nd, Sims of the 12th 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, on a cold New Year's morning shortly after midnight, a young four year old boy, full of great promise and innocence, sat obediently before God at his church; and

WHEREAS, as this peaceful young boy worshiped, the air outside was split by the startling sound of a weapon fired in celebration of the coming new year; and

WHEREAS, the bullet from that celebratory gunfire unintentionally and tragically pierced the church's sanctuary killing that beautiful, loving little boy named Marquel Peters; and

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, 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 young Marquel Peters.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE 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 Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners and the mother of Marquel Peters.