Georgia allows concealed carry without a permit under Senate Bill 319 (effective April 12, 2022), often called 'constitutional carry.' Anyone 21 or older (18 if military) who can legally possess a firearm can carry a concealed handgun in most public places without a license (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-126). You can also get a Weapons Carry License (WCL) from the probate court under Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-129, which is optional but offers benefits like reciprocity with other states. To get a WCL, you must be 21 or older (18 if military), and pass a background check with fingerprinting—no training is required. Concealed carry is banned in certain places like schools, courthouses, and government buildings with security screenings (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-127). Private property owners can also ban firearms with proper signage. Violations can lead to misdemeanor charges, with penalties up to 1 year in jail.
Costs: A WCL application costs $75 (including fingerprinting). Total costs for a WCL are usually $75-$80.
Processing Time: WCL applications are processed within 60 days, but delays can occur if additional background checks are needed.
Renewal: A WCL is valid for 5 years. Renewal costs $30 and does not require retraining.
Reciprocity: Since Georgia allows permitless carry, you don’t need a WCL to carry concealed here if you’re 21 or older. Georgia honors permits from all other states (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-126(h)). A Georgia WCL is recognized by 37 states, including Florida, Alabama, and Texas. Always check the laws of the state you’re visiting.
Georgia requires a permit for open carry of handguns under Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-126. You must have a Weapons Carry License (WCL) or a permit from a state Georgia honors to openly carry a handgun in public. Open carry without a permit is illegal, even with constitutional carry laws. Open carry is banned in certain places like schools, courthouses, and government buildings with security screenings (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-127). Private property owners can prohibit open carry with proper signage. Long guns, like rifles and shotguns, can be openly carried without a permit, but displaying any firearm in a threatening manner is illegal (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-102). Violations can lead to misdemeanor charges, with penalties up to 1 year in jail.
Georgia has minimal restrictions on firearm types. There are no state laws banning assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, silencers, short-barreled rifles/shotguns, or machine guns, as long as they comply with federal law (e.g., National Firearms Act for machine guns and silencers). Ghost guns (firearms without serial numbers) are legal, and there’s no requirement to serialize them. Certain people can’t possess firearms, like felons or those with domestic violence convictions (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-131). Firearms are banned in specific places like schools and courthouses (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-127). Violations can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges, with penalties up to 1 year in jail or 5 years in prison.
Costs: There are no state fees for owning restricted firearms since Georgia doesn’t ban them, but federal fees apply for items like silencers ($200 tax stamp).
Processing Time: Federal background checks for restricted items (e.g., silencers) can take 6-12 months through the ATF.
Interstate travel with firearms through or into Georgia is allowed under federal law, but you must follow state rules. The federal Firearms Owners' Protection Act (FOPA), under 18 U.S.C. § 926A, lets you transport firearms across state lines if you can legally possess them in your starting and destination states. The firearm must be unloaded, and neither the firearm nor its ammo can be easily reached—store them in a trunk or locked container (not the glove box). Georgia law allows you to carry a handgun in your vehicle without a permit if you’re 21 or older and can legally possess a firearm (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-126). Long guns can be transported without a locked container. Firearms are banned in certain places like schools and courthouses (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-127). Georgia allows permitless carry, so you don’t need a license to carry while traveling here if you’re 21 or older and can legally possess a firearm.
Purchasing a firearm in Georgia is straightforward with few state restrictions. You must be 21 to buy a handgun from a licensed dealer (federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 922), but only 18 for rifles or shotguns (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-132). No permit, background check, or waiting period is required for private sales. For dealer purchases, you’ll need a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), but there’s no state waiting period (18 U.S.C. § 922). There’s no limit on the number of firearms you can buy at once, and no state requirement for a safety certificate. Assault weapons, silencers, and large-capacity magazines can be purchased, subject to federal laws (e.g., NFA for silencers). Certain people, like felons, can’t buy firearms (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-131).
Costs: There are no state fees for purchasing, but dealers may charge a $10-$25 fee for the NICS background check. Total fees are typically $10-$25 per transaction.
Processing Time: NICS background checks are usually instant but can take up to 3 days if there’s a delay.
Georgia does not require firearm registration for most guns. There’s no state law mandating registration when you buy a firearm, move to Georgia, or own a ghost gun (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-125.1). Federal law requires registration for certain items like machine guns and silencers through the ATF (National Firearms Act). Georgia doesn’t require reporting lost or stolen firearms. There are no penalties for failing to register since registration isn’t required.
Georgia has minimal firearm storage laws. There’s no state requirement to store firearms unloaded or in a locked container (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-125.1). There are no specific child access prevention laws, but general negligence laws apply if a child causes harm with an accessible firearm (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-3-1). Penalties for negligence can be a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail) or a felony (up to 5 years in prison) if serious harm occurs. There’s no requirement to report lost or stolen firearms, and dealers aren’t required to provide locking devices with purchases.
Georgia follows a strong Castle Doctrine under Ga. Code Ann. § 16-3-23, allowing you to use deadly force in your home, vehicle, or place of business if someone unlawfully enters and you reasonably believe they’re a threat to cause death or serious injury. Georgia is also a 'stand your ground' state, meaning you don’t have to retreat anywhere you’re legally present (Ga. Code Ann. § 16-3-23.1). This applies to your property and public places. Using excessive force can lead to charges like manslaughter or murder, with penalties up to 20 years in prison.