In Savannah, Georgia, a gun owner named Clarence Belt has taken legal action to challenge an ordinance that imposes fines and potential jail time for individuals who leave guns inside unlocked vehicles. The lawsuit questions whether the city has the authority to regulate gun safety in a state where many gun restrictions have been removed by Republican lawmakers.
The city council in Savannah voted unanimously in April to prohibit keeping firearms in unlocked cars, citing concerns about gun thefts from unlocked vehicles. The maximum penalties for violating the ordinance include a $1,000 fine and up to 30 days in jail. Belt, who resides in Jesup but frequents Savannah for various activities, filed the lawsuit in May as he carries a gun in his vehicle and fears being cited.
During a court hearing, Belt’s attorney, John Monroe, argued that the Savannah ordinance violates a state law that prohibits local governments from regulating the possession, ownership, transport, or carrying of firearms. Georgia’s Attorney General Chris Carr also asserted that local ordinances cannot regulate firearms, but Savannah officials proceeded with their ordinance.
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, a former police officer, supports the ordinance as a means to promote responsible gun ownership without infringing on Second Amendment rights. The city’s attorney, Bates Lovett, contends that the ordinance is primarily focused on regulating vehicles rather than firearms, emphasizing the importance of securing vehicles to prevent gun theft.
While Belt’s lawsuit targets the Savannah ordinance, its legal standing is being questioned by the court due to his non-residency in the city. Despite this, Belt’s attorney argues that the ordinance applies to both residents and visitors and therefore his client has the right to challenge it. The judge has requested written briefs on the issue by September 16.
The judge anticipates a lengthy legal process if Belt’s lawsuit proceeds, acknowledging the potential for the case to progress through various levels of the Georgia court system. As of August 15, the Savannah Police Department had issued only a few citations for guns left in unlocked cars under the contested ordinance.
