Jeanne Assam, the worshipper in Colorado Springs, Colo., who recently carried two concealed weapons to act as a volunteer security guard at her church, is a heroine who saved countless lives, but if she did the same in Georgia, she would be a criminal facing a prison term.

In Georgia, it is a crime to carry a weapon to or while at a church, or any other “public gathering.” If a person is intent on killing worshippers at your church, your only legal options are to run, hide, or pray, remembering that when seconds count, the police are only six minutes away.

It is time to repeal Georgia’s insane public gathering law. Churches, not the government, should determine whether worshippers can carry concealed weapons.

The irony in this situation is that my Georgia firearms license entitles me to carry a firearm in churches in Colorado, a state which honors Georgia’s license, but the same conduct is a crime in Georgia, the state that issued my license. Why does Colorado trust me more than Georgia?

It is a little known irony that Georgia has more places off limits to the carry of a concealed pistol than any state in the nation, including California.

This is about to change. Rep. Timothy Bearden, District 68, recently introduced HB 915, the Second Amendment Protection Act of 2008, which will repeal Georgia’s public gathering law, stop New York Mayor Bloomberg’s straw purchase antics in this state, force probate judges to timely issue firearms licenses to qualified applicants, and remove the Governor’s power to confiscate your weapons during a time of declared emergency, which is when you might need a weapon the most.

The Second Amendment Protection Act of 2008 is endorsed by GeorgiaCarry.org, Georgia Sport Shooting Association, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, and Gun Owners of America. The NRA is considering endorsing it before the Georgia legislative session begins.

Please ask your state representative and state senator to support meaningful change to Georgia’s gun laws through supporting The Second Amendment Protection Act of 2008.

Ed Stone

Senoia, Ga.