New death penalty law possible after Nichols Trial

The failure by a Fulton county jury on Friday to condemn Brian Nichols to death has revived efforts to lower the bar for the death penalty.

Nichols had pled guilty to killing 4 people, a judge a court reporter and two law enforcement officers in 2005. In Georgia a unanimous jury verdict is needed to die by lethal injection. In the Nichols case 3 jurors said he didn’t deserve to die.

Republican State Representative Tim Bearden says he will file legislation Tomorrow that would give a judge the power to impose the death penalty if a jury is deadlocked

"It would allow the judge to have the decision between 10-2 and 11 -1." Bearden says. He blieved the Nichols trial will benefit the legislation.

"I think it will have a ripple affect through the whole general assembly and
it will probably have an affect the bill."

Bearden co-sponsored a similar bill last year. It passed the state house but got stuck in a senate committee.

Human Right’s activists say Lawmakers should instead study the death penalty to see if it is cost effective and administered fairly in Georgia.

Lamaker vows to take gun to the airport

The Lawmaker who sponsored HB 89 says he will carry his gun to the airport today.
Republican state representative Tim Bearden told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that the law allows him to take his gun when he picks up family at the worlds busiest airport today.

Airport officials say if he shows up with a gun he will be arrested, but Bearden says if they do so he will sue.

The new law going into effect today allows those with a concealed weapons permit to carry guns onto public transport, into parks and restaurants where alcohol is being served. Federal law prohibits firearms behind the airport security gates, but it's not clear whether that law extends to the main terminal.