The state of Georgia has an open carry law. Anyone with an open carry permit can take a gun into any building except ____________

I’ll give you a few minutes on this one.

La la la la (x 100)

Time’s up.

If you answered “a school” go to the back of the classroom (where you may be a little safer from an active shooter, so that’s not so bad a punishment).

The correct answer:

§ 16–11–127. Carrying weapons in unauthorized locations

(b) Except as provided in Code Section 16–11–127.1 and subsection (d) or (e) of this Code section, a person shall be guilty of carrying a weapon or long gun in an unauthorized location and punished as for a misdemeanor when he or she carries a weapon or long gun while:

(1) In a government building as a nonlicense holder;

(2) In a courthouse;

(3) In a jail or prison;

(4) In a place of worship, unless the governing body or authority of the place of worship permits the carrying of weapons or long guns by license holders;

(5) In a state mental health facility as defined in Code Section 37–1–1 which admits individuals on an involuntary basis for treatment of mental illness, developmental disability, or addictive disease; provided, however, that carrying a weapon or long gun in such location in a manner in compliance with paragraph (3) of subsection (d) of this Code section shall not constitute a violation of this subsection;

(6) On the premises of a nuclear power facility, except as provided in Code Section 16–11–127.2, and the punishment provisions of Code Section 16–11–127.2 shall supersede the punishment provisions of this Code section; or

(7) Within 150 feet of any polling place when elections are being conducted and such polling place is being used as a polling place as provided for in paragraph (27) of Code Section 21–2–2, except as provided in subsection (i) of Code Section 21–2–413.

In other words, the state legislators who crafted this provision for public safety ensured their own safety, but not that of schoolchildren.

You may think “according to (1) can’t a licensed gun holder carry a gun into the state capitol?” But the statute continues

A license holder who enters or attempts to enter a government building carrying a weapon where ingress is restricted or screened by security personnel shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if at least one member of such security personnel is certified as a peace officer pursuant to Chapter 8 of Title 35.

And since ingress to the state capitol of Georgia is “restricted or screened by security of personnel,” the capitol is safer than most public schools (and all private schools).