State may ban gun references from vanity plates

ATLANTA — Some Georgia gun owners are fighting a decision that would prevent references to guns or weapons on vanity license plates.

A handful of people attended a public hearing on Tuesday at the Georgia Department of Revenue.

They said their freedom of speech is being violated by the proposed license restrictions.

"Anything that censors is very important to me and this is a state censoring," Kurt Martin told Channel 2's Craig Lucie. "Our message is don't put it on the list. Take it off the list and allow people to have the same message on their plates that anyone else can do."

The Department of Revenue already settled one lawsuit regarding license plates this year. Cyrus Gilbert sued when his license plate reading "GAY GUY" was denied.  Gilbert won and received his plates in early June.
 
State officials told Lucie they weren't sure when guns were added to the expanding list of banned topics, which also includes drugs and alcohol.

Spokesman Sean Casey told Lucie the state is indifferent on what is and is not allowed on vanity license plates.

"We do not take a position and we are here just to listen to the public and get their input," Casey said.

Georgia Carry brought examples of banned license plates to the meeting. The examples included MORTAR and OPNCARY.

Casey said the department would take into account the comments and emails they have received before making a final decision on vanity plate bans in the coming months.