[Highwayman]

Two words;
Kennesaw, Georgia.

Posted 4/28/05
I spoke to the Mayor of Kennesaw on April 27, 2005
Leonard L. Church, Mayor, Term: Until 12/31/2007
Phone: (770) 426-0280, Email: lchurch@kennesaw.ga.us

He and his police chief are so happy to have cleaned up their town with such a simple ordinance. The town has exploded with businesses, population, economy, expansion, property values, everything is booming except crime that is in the single digit numbers.

The manpower for the police force was not increased, taxes were not increased, vehicles used by the police did not increase, it cost the town nothing to lower their crime.

What was effected was:
lower outlay of money to do policing-that money was used for other things,
lower city moneys in expenditures from the lowering of the crime,
less money spent by citizens to replace what was stolen or people that were hurt from violent crime,
higher property values which brought in a better class of citizen,
people of like mindset moved in and wanted to keep the crime lower so they were ecstatic with the ordinance,
more businesses and people moved in to take advantage of the ordinances
and on and on!!

While Kennesaw, with their ordinance in place, crime has flourished and gone to the surrounding towns. Thieves, murderers, violent offenders, rapists, and transients are staying away from Kennesaw. You cannot argue with success.

Basically this town is protected from the ordinance in ways, when it was put in place, that were unimaginable at the time!

Like the surrounding Cobb County and Atlanta area, Kennesaw's population growth is intense. Kennesaw's population increased from 5,095 in 1980 and to 21,675 in 2000, an increase of 325% in just 20 years. The Kennesaw Census Area also increased approximately 271% for that same period. The City began a growth spurt in 1985 which will last through the turn of the century.

The growth of the Metropolitan region encouraged the rapid expansion of housing and ancillary businesses, leading to the population explosion in and around Kennesaw. Furthermore, Kennesaw is developing as its own commercial center to further expand the metro boundary.

The ordinance;

Code of Ordinances & Gun Law

Sec. 34-1 Heads of households to maintain firearms.

(a) In order to provide for the emergency management of the City, and further in order to provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants, every head of household residing in the City limits is required to maintain a firearm, together with ammunition therefore.

(b) Exempt from the effect of this section are those heads of households who suffer a physical or mental disability, which would prohibit them from using such a firearm.

Further exempt from the effect of this section are those heads of households who are paupers or who conscientiously oppose maintaining firearms as a result of beliefs or religious doctrine, or persons convicted of a felony.

PublicRights.org - Kennesaw Gun Ordinance Introduction