Ryan Gill ([info]montieth) wrote,
@ 2008-05-12 21:55:00
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Two More days...
...before some Jim Crow laws are partially expunged from Georgia law.

Here's hoping that the Governor doesn't veto HB 89. If he does not sign by the 15th (or veto) it still becomes law on July 1st.

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[info]_jeremiad
2008-05-16 12:01 am UTC (link)
How is this a Jim Crow law?

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[info]montieth
2008-05-16 01:00 am UTC (link)
Hey, I was waiting on someone to ask.

Following the civil war and more particularly ratification of the 14th Amendment, we had, how shall I put it, a less than permissive and equality minded police force and militia in charge of law and order. The black population, which was slowly becoming more educated by clawing their way up the then very segregated and unequal educational opportunities started trying to get organized. This included political discussions and rallies at common places they attended. Churches were one, drinking establishments were another (not really unique to that part of the population). When the militia, KKK, and other official and not so official groups wanted to 'break up' those events, they would show up in force. So the black population started showing up with arms to defend themselves. Not wanting such things to be an issue, the public gathering prohibition on carrying firearms was established (not unlike the Sullivan laws in New York). This sort of activity more or less culminated in the race riots in 1906 we had down town and across Georgia with the Governor's militia (a cavalry unit) was called in to suppress the black population.

The objectives were to disarm blacks and prevent them from organizing their own militias OR from organizing politically. Most of the gun control laws in the south were passed follwing various stages of reconstruction or federal decisions or constitutional amendments. The Basic "no arms at public gathering law was passed on Georgia in 1870 following the 14th amendment's ratification. Georgia passed the official laws requiring a permit to carry a handgun in 1913.

There was a lot of this in the north, but it wasn't aimed solely at blacks, it was also aimed at immigrants, be they Irish or Italian or what not. Generally, where there was a "sherrif" approval for issuing a permit, it was to allow the naturally upper class white protestant to bar/prevent the lower class immigrant or black from obtaining a permit. There was no recourse or appeal usually. Happily most states that allow CCW are shall issue and deleted that approval step a good while ago. However, some places like California or New York still hinge their permit system on the fiat of the law enforcement head of that area.

Further Reading:
The Racist Roots of Gun Control, Clayton Cramer
Racist Roots of Georgia gun Laws (PDF Link)
Reason Magazine, The Clan's Favorite Law

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[info]_jeremiad
2008-05-16 01:20 am UTC (link)
Oh wow. I had no idea.

Thank you for responding.

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