Posted on Aug 2, 2022
Music Midtown pulls the plug over Georgia's gun laws, highlighting a legal gray area
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https://www.npr.org/2022/08/01/ [login to see] /music-midtown-atlanta-canceled-over-guns
Organizers of Music Midtown, a major festival in Atlanta, announced Monday that the two-day event originally scheduled for next month is canceled. Though the official announcement cites "circumstances beyond our control," local media outlets report the reason for the cancellation is one that's unexpected: Georgia's gun laws.
This scenario is indicative of a problematic gray area in Georgia's gun laws, according to Timothy Lytton, a law professor at Georgia State University.
Generally, if a gun owner wants to bring a weapon to a public park or some other public venue, the law of the state protects the person's right to do so, Lytton said. Private properties, like a private university or a business, are allowed under certain circumstances to stop a person from bringing in a firearm, he said.
"And now we have an unclear case: What happens if you have a privately organized concert but in a very public venue like a city park? Is that a private event? Or is that a public venue? And the answer to that is somewhat unclear," Lytton told NPR.
Organizers of Music Midtown, a major festival in Atlanta, announced Monday that the two-day event originally scheduled for next month is canceled. Though the official announcement cites "circumstances beyond our control," local media outlets report the reason for the cancellation is one that's unexpected: Georgia's gun laws.
This scenario is indicative of a problematic gray area in Georgia's gun laws, according to Timothy Lytton, a law professor at Georgia State University.
Generally, if a gun owner wants to bring a weapon to a public park or some other public venue, the law of the state protects the person's right to do so, Lytton said. Private properties, like a private university or a business, are allowed under certain circumstances to stop a person from bringing in a firearm, he said.
"And now we have an unclear case: What happens if you have a privately organized concert but in a very public venue like a city park? Is that a private event? Or is that a public venue? And the answer to that is somewhat unclear," Lytton told NPR.
Music Midtown pulls the plug over Georgia's gun laws, highlighting a legal gray area
Posted from npr.org
Atlanta
Music
Georgia State University
Firearms and Guns
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
"...Other businesses in Georgia have been in similar situations, Lytton said. Out of fear of litigation and because of uncertainty in the law, private organizations that run events in public venues have opted to lift any gun bans.
"My guess is that the [Music Midtown] organizers may be nervous about what would happen in court and so they want to figure out some sort of solution prior to that and come out with a statement as to whether or not they're going to lift the ban or whether or not they're gonna stick by their guns, as it were, and wait to see what happens through litigation,"...
"...Other businesses in Georgia have been in similar situations, Lytton said. Out of fear of litigation and because of uncertainty in the law, private organizations that run events in public venues have opted to lift any gun bans.
"My guess is that the [Music Midtown] organizers may be nervous about what would happen in court and so they want to figure out some sort of solution prior to that and come out with a statement as to whether or not they're going to lift the ban or whether or not they're gonna stick by their guns, as it were, and wait to see what happens through litigation,"...
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