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Judge Rules Savannah’s Gun-Storage-in-Cars Ordinance Unenforceable

City leaders plan an appeal, leaving enforcement in place for now.

Overview

  • Chatham County Recorder's Court Judge Brian Joseph Huffman Jr. threw out a citation against Clayton Papp and declared the ordinance void and unenforceable in his case.
  • The ruling found the local law conflicts with Georgia’s firearm preemption statute and burdens conduct covered by the Second Amendment.
  • Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said the city will keep enforcing the requirement and will appeal to Superior Court.
  • Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr praised the decision as a victory for gun owners opposed to local restrictions.
  • City data cited by officials show 41 citations since adoption and a drop in guns reported stolen from unlocked vehicles, which they say supports the ordinance’s public-safety goals.