25 LC 39 4637
Senate Bill 231
By: Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Gooch of the 51st, Bearden of the 30th, Robertson of the
29th, Goodman of the 8th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Code Section 16-11-173 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
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legislative findings, preemption of local regulation and lawsuits relative to firearms, and2
exceptions, so as to limit liability of a weapons, firearms, or ammunition manufacturer, trade3
association, owner or operator of a sport shooting range, or dealer for unlawful, intentional,4
or negligent acts of a third party involving the use of a weapon, firearm, or ammunition or5
activities relating to such that occur at a sport shooting range; to provide the state with the6
exclusive right to bring suit against a weapons, firearms, or ammunition manufacturer, trade7
association, owner or operator of a sport shooting range, or dealer on behalf of any state8
agency or a local government; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and9
for other purposes.10
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:11
SECTION 1.12
Code Section 16-11-173 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to legislative13
findings, preemption of local regulation and lawsuits relative to firearms, and exceptions, is14
amended by revising subsection (b) as follows:15
S. B. 231
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"(b)(1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, no county or municipal
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corporation, by zoning, by ordinance or resolution, or by any other means, nor any17
agency, board, department, commission, political subdivision, school district, or authority18
of this state, other than the General Assembly, by rule or regulation or by any other19
means shall regulate in any manner:20
(A) Gun shows;21
(B) The possession, ownership, transport, carrying, transfer, sale, purchase, licensing,22
or registration of firearms or other weapons or components of firearms or other23
weapons;24
(C) Firearms dealers or dealers of other weapons; or25
(D) Dealers in components of firearms or other weapons.26
(2) A weapons, firearms, or ammunition manufacturer, trade association, owner or
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operator of a sport shooting range, or dealer shall not be held liable as a third party for28
unlawful, intentional, or negligent acts of another involving the use of a weapon, firearm,29
or ammunition or activities relating to such that occur at a sport shooting range. The30
authority to bring suit and right to recover against any weapons, firearms, or ammunition31
manufacturer, trade association, owner or operator of a sport shooting range, or dealer by32
or on behalf of any governmental unit created by or pursuant to an Act of the General33
Assembly or the Constitution, or any department, agency, or authority thereof, for34
damages, abatement, or injunctive relief resulting from or relating to the lawful design,35
manufacture, marketing, or sale of weapons, firearms, or ammunition to the public or36
activities relating to weapons, firearms, or ammunition that occur at a sport shooting37
range shall be reserved exclusively to the state. This paragraph shall not prohibit a38
political subdivision or local government authority from bringing an action against a39
weapons, firearms, or ammunition manufacturer or dealer for breach of contract or40
express warranty as to weapons, firearms, or ammunition purchased by the political41
subdivision or local government authority."42
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SECTION 2.
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All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.44
S. B. 231
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