Savannah, Georgia, is a coastal tourist destination that also grapples with more than its fair share of violent crime. Sadly, city officials continue to pursue failed gun control policies that do nothing to enhance public safety.
One controversial anti-Second Amendment prohibition ran into a judicial speed bump this week, though the scope of the ruling’s effects is limited.
New ruling is not the breakthrough gun rights supporters need
Savannah lawmakers unanimously passed an ordinance last year imposing fines and even incarceration for leaving a firearm in an unlocked vehicle. It was only a matter of time before a citizen ran afoul of the law, and one did in August 2024.
Clayton Papp was arrested for this new infraction, but his attorney asked that the charges be dismissed on grounds of obvious Second Amendment concerns.
The bad news is that Chatham County Judge Brian Joseph Huffman Jr.’s positive ruling likely only applies to Papp. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson (D) told reporters that the city will continue to enforce the rule.
Savannah officials sought to go far beyond the bounds of Georgia’s gun restrictions
“We’ve had this in existence now for quite some time, and we have reduced the number of guns stolen from unlocked vehicles in Savannah,” Johnson claimed.
Experts explained that the ruling applies only to Papp because his challenge to the local ordinance was part of his criminal defense strategy. It was not a broader fight against the ban itself.
Despite the limited scope of his decision, Huffman declared the law “void and unenforceable.” He cited the state’s preemption law that bars local entities from regulating “The possession, ownership, transport, [or] carrying” of these weapons.
The judge further noted that the law affects activities “covered by the plain text of the Second Amendment.” This ruling should be cited in a broader legal challenge to the restriction.There’s no better way to show your patriotism than with merch that speaks before you do.
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