In order to protect community safety and security, this law, which was passed in the 1980s, requires each head of family to have a firearm and ammunition.
Some locals are proud of this law, seeing it as evidence of the town’s acceptance of gun culture, while others find it embarrassing.
Nonetheless, a common belief among the residents is that the law helps to keep Kennesaw safe. According to one local, “If anything, criminals should be worried because they have no idea what you have if they break into your house and you’re there.”
Interestingly, not everyone is required to comply with the law. Exemptions are made for individuals with mental or physical disabilities, past felony convictions, and those with conflicting religious beliefs.
Opinions on the law’s effectiveness vary. As per the BBC, a groundskeeper at the local Baptist church suggested that it’s not the guns themselves, but the attitude of the community that keeps crime rates low. “We protect ourselves and our neighbors,” he emphasised.
Kennesaw’s crime statistics are noteworthy. According to the Kennesaw Police Department, there were no reported murders in 2023, although two gun-involved suicides did occur.
Similar gun laws have been passed in another five cities of the United States, including Gun Barrel City, Texas and Virgin, Utah.
While the law’s impact on crime rates is open to interpretation, one thing is clear: Kennesaw’s unique approach to gun ownership has sparked a lively debate about the role of firearms in community safety.
