The ruling by Chatham County Superior Court Judge Benjamin Karpf did not address the civil lawsuit’s argument that the Savannah ordinance violates a Georgia state law that broadly prohibits local governments from regulating guns.

Instead, the judge dismissed the case on Nov. 22 after finding that gun owner Clarence Belt lacked legal standing to sue the city. Belt isn’t a Savannah resident and hasn’t been cited for violating the city’s gun ordinance.

Savannah’s mayor and city council voted unanimously in April to outlaw keeping firearms in unlocked vehicles, with maximum penalties of a $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail. They said the law would make it harder for criminals to steal guns, and cited local police statistics showing more than 200 guns reported stolen in 2023 from vehicles that weren’t locked.

  • Buelldozer
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    132 days ago

    I don’t understand why so many gun owners want to leave their firearms lying around unsecured. I could maybe see my way into the argument of a locked vehicle but an unlocked one? JFC, may as well just leave your piece with whoever is standing there when you get out and hope they’re still there when you get back!

    • Flying Squid
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      52 days ago

      These are the same people who talk about “sensible gun owners” when arguing against really sensible laws like this as if they’re amongst them.

  • @[email protected]
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    2 days ago

    They shouldn’t be left unattended in locked vehicles either, unless they’re in their own locked container or trigger-locked and out of sight.

    Edit: and also unloaded.

    • Buelldozer
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      32 days ago

      Console vaults are better than nothing, and I have one, but it’s still dicey leaving a firearm unattended in a vehicle and IMHO it shouldn’t be done unless there’s no other option.

  • @[email protected]
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    132 days ago

    In Texas, guns aren’t allowed inside establishments that make more than 50% of their income selling alcohol. This is why, whenever I go to the bar, I leave my gun outside, but tie it up to a nearby pole or bike rack so that people know it’s not a stray.

    @[email protected], how do you handle wanting your gun by your side in public but having the sudden urge to sprint, screaming, into a post office or school?

    • @TexasDrunk
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      82 days ago

      I rarely take my firearms anywhere besides the woods. Everyone knows that any establishment I enter automatically makes greater than half their income from alcohol.

      • @[email protected]
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        42 days ago

        Everyone knows that any establishment I enter automatically makes greater than half their income from alcohol.

        And if they don’t already, they’re about to

  • @foggy
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    2 days ago

    So, every MLB stadium doesn’t allow guns. Private property, no guns unless active on duty law enforcement.

    I worked at a stadium over a decade ago.

    Two off duty cops come up to me and ask if they can take a look around.

    “You’re armed. Sorry. No can do.”

    The two disappear and come back unarmed, “now can we come in?”

    Guys, I literally have to report this. You just left your, presumably state issued, firearm somewhere? Your car? Dudes. Dumbasses.

    • FuglyDuck
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      2 days ago

      Gun vaults in cars are a thing.

      Granted, these chucklefucks probably don’t have one, but it’s possible it was in fact secured.

      Still, report it anyhow. They probably have a few bodies on them. Forget to mention the “belong” to cops.

      • @foggy
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        12 days ago

        Yeah, I mean they made known they were from another city. So like they weren’t there in their squad car. They were out of state. Off duty. Open carry. Disappeared (major downtown area) and returned like 10 minutes later (literally either in a bush or in their meter-parked city-sidewalk civilian vehicle).

        And like, tf am I to assume. I was probably 19? 20? My thought is y’all did not drive here (2 timezones away, they said what city they were cops in). So probably a rental.

        I reported it immediately, no idea what happened. Just… Yeah.

        • FuglyDuck
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          12 days ago

          yeah, so chances are fairly solid they did drive. Either they drove in, or they chartered a coach bus. (brewer’s fans tend to do that.).

          There’s really no “reason” to assume that it was totally unsecured though. at least none that would induce a cop to investigate another cop. It probably was unsecured, but it probably wasn’t left in a bush or something. firearms aren’t exactly inexpensive.

    • @AbidanYre
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      2 days ago

      You missed a good opportunity to get yourself some free guns.

      • @foggy
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        Oh man dude with my more matured cybersecurity hardened mindset?

        “Oof, yep. Only thing is the guns, let me just take y’all down to our secure lockers.”

        I am all access. I take the cops to lockers I have keys to.

        Aaand RCE. Don’t be stupid!

        “How a minimum wage security guard stole two state issued handguns from off duty officers without raising suspicio.” Too real.

  • @MacGuffin94
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    22 days ago

    Just spin it as a car regulation instead of a gun regulation.