page_title: Gun laws in Georgia
section_title: Overview
hierarchical_section_title: Gun laws in Georgia / Overview
caption_attribution_description: English: Open carry at a Free State Project meeting in Lancaster, New Hampshire in 2009.
context_page_description: Gun laws in the state of Georgia regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Georgia in the United States. It does not however affect the laws of other states. The Georgia Constitution, like many other state constitutions, guarantees to its citizen the right to keep and bear arms. Article one, section one, paragraph VII of the Georgia Constitution states: "The right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have the power to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne."
context_section_description: On June 8, 2010, Senate Bill 308 was signed by Governor Sonny Perdue reforming and clarifying many of Georgia's Gun Laws, while leaving certain restrictions in place.
  Georgia is a "shall issue" state, with the Georgia Weapons Carry License application to be submitted through the probate court of the county of residence. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, unless they provide proof of basic training and service in the military.
  According to the Georgia Department of Law, "Georgia will recognize the weapons carry licenses, both resident and non-resident, from any other state provided that that state likewise recognizes a Georgia license." The states recognized under reciprocity include:  Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. A non-resident of Georgia to whom has been issued a firearm license by a state listed above may carry a firearm while in Georgia in accordance with Georgia law. This includes non-residents under the age of 21.
  South Carolina H3799 was signed by Gov Haley on June 3, 2016, allowing reciprocity with Georgia CCW permits.
  There are a number of ways a firearm can be carried without a permit. No permit is needed:
  To carry a firearm in a person's home, place of business, or vehicle
  To carry a long gun in a fully open and exposed manner
  To carry an unloaded firearm in a case
  To carry a firearm in someone else's vehicle, provided you would qualify for a permit
  To carry a firearm while fishing or hunting, if you have a valid fishing or hunting license
  State preemption laws prohibit localities from regulating the ownership, transportation, and possession of firearms. Georgia also has a law preventing localities from enacting ordinances or lawsuits to classify gun ranges as nuisances.  This means that local parks, offices, etc. of non-Federal government agencies may not prohibit those with a valid Georgia Weapons License from carrying.  Federal regulations continue to prohibit carrying weapons on Corps of Engineers and US Postal Service property.
   
  Firearm regulations are uniform throughout the state, and a firearms permit is valid throughout the state, in all areas other than in a few specially-defined areas. These specially-defined prohibited areas include:
  In a government building, where ingress into such building is restricted or screened by security personnel and overseen by a POST certified, sworn peace officer
  In a courthouse
  In a jail or prison
  In a place of worship, unless the governing body or authority of the place of worship permits the carrying of weapons or long guns by license holders
  In a state mental health facility
  On the premises of a nuclear power facility
  Within 150 feet (46 m) of any polling place, only during an election.
  On school grounds (incl. building and grounds), unless carrying or picking up a student, or permitted in writing by an official of the school, however weapons may be securely stored in vehicles parked on school grounds.
  As exceptions to the above list, a person may keep their firearm in a locked compartment of their vehicle at any of the above places except nuclear power facilities. Also, a person may approach security or management of any of the above places (except schools and nuclear power facilities) and ask them for directions on removing, securing, storing, or temporarily surrendering the weapon.
  As of July 1, 2006, Georgia became a "Stand Your Ground" state, and requires no duty to retreat before using deadly force in self-defense, or defense of others.
  Georgia law allows private firearm sales between residents without requiring any processing through an FFL.
  A Kennesaw, GA city ordinance requires that all homeowners own a firearm and ammunition (Sec 34-1a). No one has ever been charged with violating this ordinance. An amendment exempts those who conscientiously object
caption: Beyond a few exceptions, a person may not carry a handgun openly in Georgia without having a valid GWCL
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