Kennesaw, Georgia, and Its Unique Gun Law
Kennesaw, Georgia, may look like any other charming Southern town, complete with the scent of freshly baked biscuits and the hum of a nearby railroad train. Nestled within this small community is a peculiar piece of legislation that sets it apart from nearly every other town in the United States—a law that requires every household to own a firearm.
This unusual law, which came into effect in the early 1980s, mandates that all heads of households in the town maintain a firearm and ammunition. While some might find it strange, others view it as a necessary measure to ensure safety and security.
“Don’t think of it as walking around with a gun strapped to your side like in the Wild West,” explained Derek Easterling, the town’s three-term mayor and former Navy member. “It’s not like we’re out enforcing it on the streets. We’re not knocking on doors and checking if you have a weapon.”
The Law’s Details and Its Exceptions
The law in Kennesaw, formally known as Article II, Sec 34-21, stipulates that every household must own a firearm for the purpose of maintaining safety within the city. However, there are clear exceptions: people with mental or physical disabilities, convicted felons, and individuals whose religious beliefs oppose gun ownership are not required to comply.
Interestingly, no one has been prosecuted for failing to comply with this law, and no records indicate any legal action against residents who do not own firearms. According to local officials, the law’s enforcement has been more of a symbolic gesture rather than an active requirement.
“The way we view it here, it’s more of a safety measure,” said Easterling. “It shows the city’s support for gun ownership, but it’s not about making everyone walk around armed.”
A Symbol of Pride or Embarrassment?
For some Kennesaw residents, the law is a point of pride. It embodies the town’s connection to the broader gun culture that pervades much of the United States, particularly in rural communities. “It’s a part of our identity,” said local resident, Rick Henderson. “It keeps us safe, and it’s a reminder that we value our rights to protect ourselves.”
Yet, for others, the law is seen as a relic—an outdated measure that some wish would be revisited. The town’s law was enacted in 1982, during a period of heightened concerns about crime, and has since been a topic of both pride and embarrassment for residents.
“I’m not sure why we still have it,” said one local business owner who asked to remain anonymous. “It feels like something from another time, but no one really wants to talk about it.”
The Law’s Impact on Crime and Safety
Despite the controversy, there is a strong belief among Kennesaw residents that the law has contributed to the town’s low crime rates. In fact, according to the Kennesaw Police Department, the city saw no murders in 2023, although there were two gun-related suicides. Local residents have been quick to point out that the absence of homicides could be tied to the city’s gun culture, which may deter would-be criminals.
“I feel safer here knowing that a lot of people have guns,” said one local diner patron while enjoying his pizza at a local parlor. “If you try to break into a house here, you don’t know who’s armed or what kind of weapon they’ve got.”
While the law remains on the books and continues to be a point of local discussion, it has not been enforced in any formal manner, and questions about its necessity remain unanswered. Still, Kennesaw’s residents generally believe it plays a role in maintaining the town’s safety and the residents’ peace of mind.
Despite the law’s potential for controversy, Kennesaw’s citizens continue to live in a town where the right to bear arms is taken seriously—not as a requirement for vigilantism, but as a measure to ensure that everyone is able to protect themselves should the need arise.
