Ga. House Republicans condemn colleague's loitering bill

ATLANTA (AP) Members of the House GOP leadership are speaking out in opposition to a bill sponsored by a fellow Republican, condemning it as a move that would loosen sex offender restrictions in Georgia.

House Majority Leader Larry O'Neal called the bill "one of the most egregious pieces of legislation" in a floor speech Friday.

Rep. John Meadows, chairman of the powerful Rules Committee, vowed it would never pass through his committee for a vote.

Republican Rep. Sam Moore, who took office earlier this month, introduced the bill Wednesday.

Moore tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the bill's goal is to eliminate discriminatory and vague laws against loitering, which allow police officers to demand identification without cause. In doing so, the bill would repeal loitering restrictions on sex offenders at schools.