ATLANTA -- Gov. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday signed legislation allowing guns in restaurants, on public transportation and in parks.

A number of groups and had urged Perdue to veto the measure, saying it could lead to increased violence. Among them were the Georgia Restaurant Association, MARTA and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin also opposes the bill.

The bill was backed by the National Rifle Association.

The new law would only apply to the roughly 300,000 Georgians that have concealed weapons permits. Those permit holders have passed criminal background checks.