In Kennesaw, Georgia, a decades-old law requires residents to own a gun and ammunition. Passed in 1982, the ordinance was designed to emphasize the importance of self-defense and deter crime.
The law states, “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 city limits is required to maintain a firearm, together with ammunition.” Exemptions are made for those with mental or physical disabilities, felony convictions, or religious objections.
Despite its bold mandate, Mayor Derek Easterling clarified that enforcement is nonexistent. “We’re not going to knock on your door and say, ‘Let me see your weapon,’” he explained, noting that no arrests or prosecutions have been made for noncompliance.
For many residents, the law serves as a symbol of Kennesaw’s commitment to self-reliance and safety. Some point to its impact, citing zero murders in 2023 according to police data, though there were two suicides involving firearms.
Local opinions remain divided. At a neighborhood pizza joint, residents credited the law with deterring crime, arguing, “If anything, criminals need to be concerned, because if they break into your home, they don’t know what you got.” Others, like city council member Pat Ferris, see the ordinance as more of a political statement than a practical mandate.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a gun or a fork or a fist or a high heel shoe. We protect ourselves and our neighbors,” said Blake Weatherby, a groundskeeper at the Kennesaw First Baptist Church, emphasizing the town’s culture of self-defense.
Still, some view the law as an outdated quirk. Council member Madelyn Orochena described it as “a weird little factoid about our community,” adding that reactions from residents range from rolling their eyes in embarrassment to laughing it off.
While its practical impact remains debated, Kennesaw’s gun law continues to spark conversations about personal responsibility and community safety nearly four decades after its inception.
