In the city of Kennesaw, Georgia, a unique ordinance mandates gun ownership for heads of households. This law, dating back to 1982, requires residents to possess a firearm and ammunition, with exceptions for those with disabilities, felony convictions, or religious objections.

Despite its unusual nature, the law is rarely enforced. Kennesaw's mayor, Derek Easterling, stated in an interview with the BBC that there have been no known prosecutions for violating the ordinance. He emphasized that the city doesn't actively check for compliance, assuring residents, "It's not like you go around wearing it on your hip like the Wild Wild West."

The image caption from the original article mentions guns on display, but the context suggests it might depict a gun store or collection. The photo accompanying the article seems unrelated to the Kennesaw law itself.

While the law is a point of pride for some residents who believe it deters crime, others view it as an oddity. Local opinions vary, with some attributing the city's low murder rate in 2023 to the gun ownership mandate. However, the same police data also recorded two suicides involving firearms.

Some residents, like groundskeeper Blake Weatherby, believe the attitude towards self-defense, rather than gun ownership itself, is the key to safety. He told the BBC, "It doesn't matter if it's a gun or a fork or a fist… We protect ourselves and our neighbors." Interestingly, Weatherby, despite once owning over 20 guns, currently doesn't possess any.

This image, captioned as a gun shop in Oregon, appears misplaced and doesn't directly relate to the Kennesaw ordinance.

Pat Ferris, a long-time city council member, suggests the law was initially intended as a political statement. He questions how many residents are even aware of the ordinance's existence. Council member Madelyn Orochena describes it as a "weird little factoid" that often elicits eye-rolls or laughter from residents.

Kennesaw's mandatory gun ownership law stands in stark contrast to Morton Grove, Illinois, which became the first U.S. city to ban handguns. Other cities, including Gun Barrel City, Texas, and Virgin, Utah, have followed Kennesaw's lead with similar ordinances, though their practical impact and enforcement remain unclear.