POWDER SPRINGS, Ga. — When you look past the campaigning, the polls and the promises - it's the people who are at the heart of every election.
Georgia voters will have a big decision to make in November and despite what some national polls might suggest, no two voters are alike. One voter shares what he's taking into consideration for the November election.
Meet Oliver Price, instructor and co-owner at South Atlanta Firearms
South Atlanta Firearms is a training facility for seasoned shooters and newcomers. Inside his Powder Springs business, Price said an emphasis on safety is the single most important thing he teaches his students.
"Access to firearms is a good thing if you have the training," Price said.
The instructor and military veteran argued that people should have to get a basic level of firearm training before owning a gun--likening it to the process of passing a driving test before being granted a license to operate a car.
"So why isn't it the same when it comes to firearms?" he said.
When asked what trends he's seeing in Georgia gun ownership, he said he's noticed an increase in women becoming firearm owners.
"They're looking for home protection," he explained. "They're by themselves, they're raising their children. It's as simple as that. And they want something to protect themselves with."
Issues he cares about
Economy
When asked about what worries him the most, Price listed the economy on his list.
"Your average person living in Georgia, living in New York, living in California, or some other place - their concern is: 'am I able to afford putting food on the table? Am I able to get up, go work, make an honest living, come home and pay the bills?" he said.
Social issues
Besides being able to afford the cost of living, the firearm instructor said he's also keeping an eye on how candidates address cultural issues.
"What do our candidates feel about Second Amendment rights?" he said. "What do they feel about our small communities? Our communities that are LGBTQ+ communities?"
Price's take on this 2024 election season:
"While President Trump was in office, my business was booming," Price said. Business is still solid now, Price was quick to add, but it's not the same as it was under the former president's administration.
"I think America was in chaos, and [people] thought that they all needed weapons," he explained. "They went out and they bought a lot of guns and they got a lot of training."
That increased demand benefited Price's bottom line.
"It is good for a business like mine. Great. But is that the way I wanted the direction of the country to go?" he questioned.
According to Price, the upcoming presidential election presents a decision between his business and social priorities.
"As a person living in America, I still want that safety and that understanding that the president is doing the right thing," said the firearms instructor.
When asked how he'll make his final choice, Price said: "I'm still making the decision."
Despite his political concerns, Price said he sees plenty to be hopeful about too. For the former IT professional, recent advances in technology offer a spot of optimism on the horizon.
"I think we're evolving; evolving with it," he said. "I really do."
Watch our Voice of the Voter segment during The Georgia Vote Sundays at 11 a.m. on WXIA.