Gun control activists are using the August 8, 2025, shooting near Emory University to renew calls for a statewide red flag law in Georgia. The attack, carried out with stolen firearms, left DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose dead before the suspect, identified as Patrick Joseph White, took his own life.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), White allegedly opened fire on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offices near the university campus. GBI Director Chris Hosey stated that the firearms used in the attack were stolen from a safe belonging to White’s father. Investigators believe White broke into the safe before carrying out the shooting.
Despite the fact that the weapons were stolen, some gun control advocates argue that a red flag law—allowing authorities to temporarily seize firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others—could help prevent similar tragedies. Critics note, however, that such laws generally target legal gun owners and would not prevent someone from stealing firearms from another person, as occurred in this case.
The proposed legislation is part of a broader push by national gun control groups to expand red flag laws across the country. Supporters claim the measures give law enforcement a proactive tool to intervene before violence occurs. Opponents counter that red flag laws undermine due process, disproportionately impact lawful gun owners, and fail to address the root causes of violence, especially in cases involving stolen or illegally obtained firearms.
Georgia currently has no red flag law in place. Any proposed legislation would likely face strong opposition from Second Amendment advocates, who argue that existing laws against theft, burglary, and murder already address criminal acts like those committed in the Emory University shooting.
