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Rep. Oliver plans to revive assault weapons bill after Orlando massacre

Crime and public safety Decatur Metro ATL slideshow

Rep. Oliver plans to revive assault weapons bill after Orlando massacre

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Soviet AK-47, first model variation. Source: Wikimedia commons

Soviet AK-47, first model variation. Source: Wikimedia commons

This story has been updated. 

State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver tells Decaturish that she plans to reintroduce a bill that would ban certain assault weapons in Georgia.

Oliver’s announcement comes just a day after a deadly shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., that claimed the lives of 49 people. The shooter was carrying Sig Saur MCX Carbine. Numerous assault-style weapons would be banned in Georgia if Oliver’s bill became law. That seems unlikely as the bill failed in the 2016 Legislative session and the Legislature is controlled by the Republican party. The governor, who would be asked to sign the bill, is also a Republican.

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Oliver said she’s hopeful she can find a Republican co-sponsor for her bill in the 2017 session.

“I plan to refile, and I want a Republican co-sponsor,” Oliver said. “We have to have a rational discussion, and it needs to be bipartisan.”

Oliver was recently reelected to her position, winning the Democratic primary election on May 24. She faces no general election opposition in November.

When she first proposed the bill, Georgia Carry Executive Director Jerry Henry predicted it would not go anywhere.

“It’s a bill that the gun grabbers in just about every state wants to pass, but I don’t think they’re going to have much luck here,” Henry told Decaturish. “For one thing, there’s really no description of an assault weapon. Your hands are an assault weapon. Anything you can pick up and harm somebody with is an assault weapon.”