ATLANTA (WJBF) – Georgia lawmakers are gearing up to propose new gun safety legislation when the 2026 legislative session kicks off in January, as gun reform and public safety issues continue to be priorities at the Gold Dome.
Groups such as Everytown for Gun Safety are pushing the legislature to adopt stricter laws aimed at reducing gun thefts from vehicles and cutting down on accidental discharges.
Nationwide, gun thefts from vehicles have escalated, with figures indicating that every nine minutes, a firearm is stolen from a car. In Atlanta, this issue is particularly acute, with the city recently placing second nationally for guns stolen from vehicles, according to federal data gathered by Everytown.
Political analyst Bill Crane, a National Rifle Association (NRA) member and gun owner, said he supports common-sense reforms:
“I am in favor of reforming gun laws and closing sales loopholes. Implementing a universal registration law makes sense without confiscating weapons,” Crane stated.
Currently, Georgia law permits gun owners to store firearms in their vehicles, provided they are safely secured in a glove box or console. However, over the past ten years, thefts have tripled on a national scale, with pistols and rifles being among the most frequently stolen items.
In the 2025 legislative session, House Bill 79 proposed a $300 tax credit for Georgia residents who bought gun safes, trigger locks, or completed firearms training. The bill successfully passed the House but got held up in the Senate and ultimately did not pass when the session adjourned early.
Crane said 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 said 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.
