Guns And Concerts?

Some artists may not be so keen on guns in the crowd during concerts, but the law could allow it at certain venues. The Georgia Safe Carry Protection Act permits licensed gun owners to bring weapons into all government-owned buildings, except for those with security checkpoints at entrances prohibitin or Centreplex?

Crystal Jones, an attorney for the Macon-Bibb County government, told Georgia Public Broadcasting the venues may have to allow guns as the exemption applies only to “government offices.”

“Because (the venues) do not house government entities, or there are not government meetings taking place in those facilities, they don’t constitute a government building which is able to have security personnel screening everyone,” she said.

Jones added the Philips Arena could also be affected under the new regulation.

The author of the law, Rep. Rick Jasperse, disagrees.

He told GPB “House Bill 60 just ensures that in a government building with security, nobody has a weapon.” “The provision should allow the venues to put up security checkpoints and prohibit guns for performers who don’t want weapons in the crowd,” he said.

Macon officials are reportedly considering moving government offices into the publicly owned venues to make sure guns would be prohibited in the buildings.