ATLANTA — A new proposed Georgia law would give hundreds of dollars back to gun owners who buy devices like gun safes and locks. However, opponents said it could put gun owners at risk.
House Bill 855 is known as the Safe Storage Tax Credit Act. The bill sponsor, Democratic State Representative Michelle Au, pre-filed the bill on Wednesday.
“All it aims to do is to provide an up to a $300 tax credit for the purchase of safe storage equipment," said Au.
Au said it’s a companion bill to another gun bill she dropped last session, House Bill 161.
“All it (HB 161) does is require that any gun owned by anyone that could be accessed by a minor be secured safely,” Au said.
She said both bills aim to keep children safe.
“I think it definitely appeals to legal gun owners who want to do the right thing and be responsible gun owners,” Au said.
However, not everyone agrees. The Georgia Gun Owners Association called Au "perhaps the most aggressive gun-grabber in the entire General Assembly, loudly demanding passage of a statewide gun registry, mandated waiting periods on gun sales, a repeal of last year’s constitutional carry law, unconstitutional ‘red flag’ gun seizures and deadly ‘safe storage’ laws.”
The Georgia Gun Owners even created an ad to get their message out. They claim such “safe storage laws” are deadly because they give criminals the advantage of time -- delaying law abiding gun owners from reaching their weapons for self defense in an emergency.
Au recognized the political climate surrounding this issue but still thinks HB 855 can pass, since a similar bill passed in Republican-lead Virginia.
“This is something I think a lot of people would want to do and having that little extra incentive could make a huge difference for people,” Au said.
Au said she hopes this bill will be heard and come up for a vote in the next regular session, which starts in January. The members of Georgia Gun Owners said “they will viciously oppose Au’s gun control agenda in 2024.“