Gov. Nathan Deal said Wednesday he will initiate a stricter review of Georgia?s mental health records for gun permit applicants, and gave a green light to legislation that would allow school administrators to carry concealed weapons.
The governor made his remarks during a reporters scrum that included my AJC colleague Greg Bluestein, who filed this:
Deal said he?d support procedural changes to ensure state agencies are checking mental-health records of people seeking guns. ?We think that is one area where we need to be more vigilant,? he said.
Deal spokesman Brian Robinson said there?s no legislation tied to the effort, but that the state will beef up its review process to make sure the state is ?doing everything it can to protect Georgians? safety.?
A federal law adopted after the Virginia Tech massacre requires states to share the names of mentally ill people with the national background-check system to prevent them from buying guns. While many states don?t comply, records show Georgia has submitted thousands of records since the law was passed in 2008.
Walter Jones of Morris News Service added this to the mix:
Of the bills already introduced in Georgia?s legislature as of the third day of the current 40-day session, [the governor] predicted the only one to succeed is from Rep. Paul Battles, R-Cartersville, that would authorize local school boards to arm principals if they choose.
?That one does have some merit,? said Deal, in what is as close as he ever gets to endorsing anyone else?s proposals. ?If someone is going to be in an environment around children, they certainly need to be trained. I think it?s one that may receive favorable consideration by the General Assembly?
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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