ATLANTA (WJBF) – Georgia lawmakers are preparing to introduce new gun safety bills when the 2026 legislative session begins in January, as public safety and firearm reform remain top concerns under the Gold Dome.
Advocacy groups like Everytown for Gun Safety are urging the legislature to act on stricter laws aimed at curbing gun thefts from vehicles and reducing accidental shootings.
Gun thefts from cars have surged across the U.S., with data showing that a firearm is stolen from a vehicle every nine minutes. In Atlanta, the problem is especially severe — the city recently ranked second nationwide for guns stolen from cars, according to federal data compiled by Everytown.
Political analyst Bill Crane, an National Rifle Association (NRA) member and gun owner, says he supports common-sense reforms:
“I support gun reform and doing away with loopholes in gun sales. A universal registration law makes sense, without confiscating weapons,” Crane said.
Georgia law currently allows gun owners to keep firearms in their vehicles if stored safely in a glove box or console. Still, thefts have tripled nationwide in the past decade, with pistols and rifles among the most commonly stolen weapons.
During the 2025 session, House Bill 79 proposed a $300 tax credit for Georgians who purchased gun safes, trigger locks, or completed firearms training. The measure passed the House but stalled in the Senate and ultimately failed when lawmakers adjourned early.
Crane says buyback programs could also help get illegal firearms off the streets, though he warns that stricter penalties alone may not deter crime.
“Outlaws will get guns one way or the other,” he said.
Lawmakers are expected to reintroduce HB 79 and other firearm safety measures in 2026. Experts say beyond gun safes and training, the state must also expand funding for mental health resources to help prevent tragedies.
Both the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation in Atlanta confirmed they do not track firearm thefts directly, leaving much of the data collection to local law enforcement agencies.
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