NELSON, Ga., April 2 (UPI) -- The Nelson, Ga., City Council voted to pass an ordinance requiring all heads of household to own a firearm and ammunition, officials said.
Police Chief Heath Mitchell -- the city's lone police officer -- approves of the new firearms ordinance, which he said he hopes protects residents from criminal outsiders.
"They're going to think twice before they come into Nelson and cause harm or break and entering, commit a theft, any type of criminal activity. I know I would if I was a bad guy," Mitchell said.
The Family Protection Ordinance, passed Monday, requires all heads of households to own a gun, except for people with physical or mental disabilities, those who oppose guns on religious grounds, and convicted felons, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, reported Tuesday.
"If anything should happen that they would need to use a firearm, [now] they are backed up by their government, their city government," Councilwoman Edith Portillo said.
Resident Charles Jones said he doesn't approve of the new law.
"I figured I would be stupid to dive into a trouble area. Therefore I don't need a weapon," he said.
The City Council said it takes 10 days for the ordinance to become a law, though it doesn't plan on checking door to door to make sure residents comply.
