In the charming city of Savannah, Georgia, Mayor Van Johnson recently expressed his concerns regarding the potential implications of Senate Bill 204. If Governor Brian Kemp signs this bill into law, it would directly challenge an existing ordinance in Savannah concerning the storage of firearms.

Senate Bill 204, which the Senate passed with a vote tally of 31-21 last Tuesday, seeks to prohibit local jurisdictions from imposing their own gun storage regulations. This move would nullify Savannah’s specific ordinance aimed at ensuring firearms left in unattended vehicles are securely stored. Such a requirement, under the city’s law, comes with serious consequences if ignored, including a fine of up to $1,000 or a jail term of up to 30 days for the gun owner.

The bill’s journey through the legislative process saw the incorporation of elements from Senate Bill 163, as reported by the NRA-ILA, adding another layer to the ongoing debate around state versus local control over gun laws.

However, the Savannah ordinance faced its own legal hurdles. In November 2025, a judge in Chatham County declared it unconstitutional, basing the decision on the Second and Fourteenth Amendments. This ruling underscored the complexities at the intersection of constitutional rights and local governance.

In Nov. of 2025, a Chatham County Judge ruled the ordinance unconstitutional, citing the Second and Fourteenth Amendments.

Johnson was initially hesitant to respond to a question about the bill on Tuesday during his weekly press conference, but eventually defended the ordinance.

“We are prepared to stand prepared to protect our community,” he said. “The numbers are very, very clear.  There were 100 less stolen guns on our streets because we asked people to simply lock the doors of their cars.” 

He said he believes the bill was passed due to political reasons, not for safety reasons.

“When you look at what was said in the Senate, this wasn’t about safety,” Johnson said. “It was about politics…Real professional gun owners will tell you it makes common sense that the first rule is that you secure a firearm. I just hope that somebody’s kid doesn’t get a shot from a stolen gun from an unlocked car.”

Johnson said he hopes Kemp would not turn the bill into a new law.

“I certainly hope the governor doesn’t sign it,” he said. “I think at the end of the day, he is reasonable, and I think we’re trying to do what we can to help protect people’s lives.  That’s it.”