NE Ga county drops firearms ordinance idea

A northeast Georgia county official will not re-submit a proposed firearms ordinance that would have prevented residents from firing a gun within 300 feet of a home. A recent meeting drew about 100 Madison County residents to protest the proposal. The county commissioner says he introduced the proposal after getting complaints of people firing guns close to their homes. Opponents backed by the National Rifle Association say the law violates the Second Amendment, and rights of property owners.

Ga. lawmakers mulling more guns in more places

Phenix City, Ala., resident Michael Knighton fires his Ruger pistol at an indoor firing range at Shooters Columbus gun shop in Columbus, Ga. The gun emits a flash of light as the bullet leaves the barrel. (File photo/Dave Bender)

Georgia lawmakers are considering allowing guns in more public places, including churches and on university campuses.

Religious leaders spoke out against the change Tuesday at a hearing of a state Senate study committee looking at Georgia's firearms laws.

University officials said they support the current law, which bans guns on campuses.

Both churches and universities have been plagued by deadly shootings in recent years.

Some gun rights supporters said the death toll would not have been so high if parishioners and students had been armed and able to protect themselves.

Earlier this year, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed House Bill 89, which allows guns in state parks, mass transit and in restaurants that serve alcohol.

(The Associated Press)

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Gang bust in Richmond County

Authorities in eastern Georgia are in the middle of a sting targeting people they say are involved in gang activity. They're rounding up nearly 100 people on drugs and weapons charges.

Officials with the U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms say it's the second largest bust of its kind in U.S. history.

Richmond County sheriff's deputies and federal agents say the defendants are mostly gang members.

The undercover operation, called Augusta Ink, took place over 16 months at a tattoo parlor set up by police in the Richmond County town of Hephzibah. Dubbed the Colur Tyme tattoo parlor, police say they set it up in area where there was gang activity and where gang members lived.

"Violence, gun trafficking and drug dealing were the main ingredients of these gangs and their criminal lifestyle. They preyed on those with addictions and took advantage of the weak and defenseless for their own selfish gain," said Vanessa McLemore, special agent in charge of the ATF's Atlanta bureau.

In all, authorities confiscated about 400 weapons, 54 pounds of marijuana and nearly 1200 grams of cocaine.

Georgia man arrested for helping gun thief

A Georgia man is under arrest for helping steal 20 guns from an Atlanta office building. Donald Lanes of Ellenwood admitted he helped an unknown man steal the guns last January from the offices of the security services contractor he was working for. Undercover federal agents later bought the guns from black market dealers in New York, and traced them back to Georgia. Lanes is charged with aiding and abetting the theft of firearms.