When I hear the word "restaurant" I reach for my pistol ... .

Concealed weapons now allowed in parks, on public transportation

By JAMES SALZER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgians with carry licenses can tote their concealed guns on public transportation, in restaurants that serve alcohol and in state parks under legislation signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue Wednesday.

Perdue inked the controversial gun bill on the final day for him to sign or veto legislation. He also signed a $21 billion state budget that will give 200,000 teachers and state employees 2.5 percent pay raises, and approved a bill allowing auto insurers to raise rates on some coverage without state approval.

The governor vetoed 17 bills, including a measure that would require the police to impound the cars of some people caught driving without a license. The measure was aimed at illegal immigrants.

As he did last year, Perdue vetoed some spending projects dear to the hearts of House leaders, including $4.5 million for airport improvements in the districts of Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) and Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons Island). His spending cuts last year added fuel to an already fiery relationship with House members. Richardson was not available for comment after the vetoes.

The gun bill was among the hottest and most heavily lobbied measures of the 2008 session. Perdue, who was endorsed by the National Rifle Association when he ran for re-election in 2006, said last week he expected the issue to wind up in court.

On Wednesday the governor did not release an explanatory statement, and he was unavailable for comment.

For two years, the bill prompted a collision of Republican constituencies, as lawmakers debated the rights of gun owners and the ability of landowners to control their property.

The General Assembly passed House Bill 89 in the final hours of the 2008 session. Until then, most of the debate on the measure had concerned a provision to permit employees to keep guns in vehicles parked on corporate parking lots.

Business interests, who had opposed the bill, say the legislation's language has been watered down to the point that the parking lots issue is no longer a concern.

But when HB 89 made its final appearance before both the House and Senate, language was added that expanded the list of public places where holders of concealed weapons permits could take their guns.

With Perdue's signature, restaurant patrons will be permitted to carry a firearm, but would be barred from drinking while doing so. Violations would be a misdemeanor. Concealed weapons will now be allowed in state and local parks. Guns in purses or under jackets will also be allowed on public transportation.

Supporters of the bill included the NRA and GeorgiaCarry.org, which argued that holders of concealed weapons permits — who submit to fingerprinting and a criminal background check — pose no danger and may protect the public.

"By signing this legislation, Gov. Perdue has expanded the rights of law-abiding Georgians who lawfully arm themselves to protect themselves and their loved ones," said Ed Stone, president of GeorgiaCarry.org.

Ron Wolf, head of the Georgia Restaurant Association, said he was disappointed by Perdue's decision, but had expected it.

"Knowing his position[s] ..., his earlier statements, I didn't really believe he'd veto it," Wolf said.

He said the law, which goes into effect July 1, creates uncertainty for restaurant owners.

"Certainly restaurants are not going to train their service personnel when they go to a table to take an order to ask if anyone is [armed]."

The state budget Perdue approved for fiscal 2009, which begins July 1, includes about $1 billion in construction projects, mostly for K-12 schools and state colleges.

Despite a troubled economy and slowing tax collections, budget writers included $6 million in hometown grants and tens of millions of dollars more in local construction projects.

House and Senate budget writers, however, cut $13.3 million Perdue recommended to buy buses to expand express, commuter bus service in metro Atlanta.

Perdue vetoed fewer projects than last year, but got in a few licks on projects lawmakers added to the budget.

He nixed $8 million for a charter school in Cobb County. He cut $3 million for the National Infantry Museum, a project backed by House Transportation Chairman Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain).

Perdue vetoed $4 million for a flight building at the Paulding County Regional Airport in memory of three of Richardson's friends who died in a February plane crash. He also cut $500,000 for airport improvements in Glynn County, Keen's home.

The insurance bill Perdue signed, Senate Bill 276, has been a top priority of insurers for several years. It allows companies to begin charging new rates on non-mandatory auto coverage without getting Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine's OK.

In opposition, Oxendine noted that Georgia had a similar law in the 1980s that led to skyrocketing insurance rates. However, insurers and the consumer group Georgia Watch argued that there is enough competition in today's market to keep companies from inflating rates.

"Policy-makers will be watching to make sure that the freedoms provided in this legislation will not be abused," Perdue said.

The governor also signed House Bill 1133, which allows Georgia residents and businesses to get tax credits when they give money to scholarship organizations that award grants to students to attend private schools.

The bill caps the tax credits at $50 million. It was seen by some education officials as the latest in a long line of attempts by Republican lawmakers to promote private schools. Supporters saw it as a way to help children escape failing public schools.

Among the veto victims was House Bill 1027, which would have allowed some traffic offenders to take court-ordered defensive driving courses online instead of in a classroom. Opponents said the bill would be open to fraud by offenders, whose identities could not be verified through an Internet-based system and who might persuade others to take the tests for them.

He also vetoed a measure allowing sales tax refunds for some tourism attractions, and another providing new tax credits for solar energy companies establishing or expanding a headquarters in Georgia.

Perdue said the solar energy bill would have only benefited one company, which would have saved more than $4 million.

Perdue said he vetoed the car impoundment bill because he believes such action should be left up to the discretion of the officer on the scene. He also said he worried it would affect new residents of the state.