Pulling out a gun during a dispute would be legal under this proposed Georgia law

Georgia senators are pursuing a bill that would make it legal to brandish a gun during a dispute.

The bill put forth by state Sen. Tyler Harper passed out of committee Monday, and would allow residents to pull a gun if they feel threatened, so long as they don’t aim it at anybody.

Under current Georgia law, brandishing a firearm can earn a felony aggravated assault charge, carrying a sentence of up 20 years, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

“My argument is: just because I have a weapon on my person and I show that weapon, I should not be charged with a felony — a 20-year felony — for simply brandishing my firearm in my attempt to de-escalate what I consider a situation where I felt threatened,” Harper said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Harper’s bill calls for a number of other changes to Georgia gun laws, including permitting firearms to be carried in places of worship and courts that aren’t holding judicial proceedings.

Churches already have the power to decide whether or not to allow weapons on premises, but per the proposed legislation, all would be considered gun-friendly zones unless they ban weaponry on an individual basis, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

Democratic state Sen. Elena Parent took to Twitter Monday, calling the legislation “a truly horrific gun bill.”

“My colleagues refuse to acknowledge the danger and violence posed by guns, and by the proliferation of guns. Instead they want to treat all guns as though they are sacred objects that are to be (worshiped).”

The bill would also do away with a five-year suspension period on weapon licenses for individuals with misdemeanor drug offenses.