Georgia Gun Laws: Permits, Restrictions, and Carry Rules Explained
A practical guide to understanding how Georgia regulates firearm ownership, carry options, and legal responsibilities for residents and visitors.
Georgia’s gun laws are part of a national discussion on balancing Second Amendment rights with public safety concerns. Recent legislative changes mean that understanding the state’s regulations on firearm possession, carrying, and transport is crucial for residents and visitors seeking to comply with the law.
Eligibility Requirements
Determining who can legally possess a firearm in Georgia requires examining both state and federal laws. Generally, individuals may possess firearms unless they belong to specific prohibited groups. Age is a key factor: federal law sets the minimum age to buy handguns from licensed dealers at 21 and long guns at 18. Georgia law specifically addresses possession by minors, making it illegal under Georgia Code Section 16-11-132 for anyone under 18 to possess a handgun, though exceptions exist for supervised activities like safety courses or target practice with parental permission. Federal law does not specify a minimum age for possessing long guns or shotguns.
Criminal history significantly impacts firearm eligibility. Georgia Code Section 16-11-131 bars firearm possession by anyone convicted of a felony in Georgia or any other jurisdiction. This includes individuals serving probation as felony first offenders or those sentenced for certain felony drug offenses. A felony is generally defined as a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.
Federal law, under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g), adds further restrictions applicable in Georgia.1Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Identify Prohibited Persons These federal rules prohibit firearm possession by fugitives, unlawful users of controlled substances, individuals adjudicated as mentally defective or involuntarily committed to mental institutions (excluding voluntary admissions), those unlawfully present in the U.S. or admitted on non-immigrant visas, individuals dishonorably discharged from the military, and former citizens who have renounced their U.S. citizenship.
Federal law also restricts individuals subject to certain domestic violence court orders and those convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. While Georgia’s state laws may not perfectly mirror every federal domestic violence prohibition, these federal restrictions apply within the state.
Required Permits
Georgia significantly changed its firearm permit requirements with Senate Bill 319, the “Georgia Constitutional Carry Act,” effective April 12, 2022. This law eliminated the need for individuals to obtain a Weapons Carry License (WCL) to carry a handgun, openly or concealed, in most public areas. Under current law, “lawful weapons carriers”—defined broadly as those eligible for a WCL, regardless of whether they have one, and qualifying out-of-state residents or license holders—do not need a state permit for handgun carry within Georgia.
Despite this change, Georgia retains the WCL system administered by county probate courts, as detailed in Georgia Code Section 16-11-129.2FindLaw. Georgia Code § 16-11-129 – Weapons Carry License While not required for carry within the state, obtaining a WCL remains useful, primarily for carrying firearms in other states that recognize Georgia’s license through reciprocity agreements.3Georgia Department of Public Safety. Georgia’s Firearm Permit Reciprocity WCL holders should verify the laws of any state they intend to visit, as carry regulations vary, and some states only recognize licenses held by individuals 21 or older.
To obtain a WCL, applicants must typically be at least 21 (or 18-20 if active or honorably discharged military with basic training), apply under oath at their county probate court, pay fees (around $75-$85 for a new license), and undergo fingerprinting for state and federal background checks. A judge issues the five-year license unless disqualifying factors are found.
Georgia law does not require a permit to purchase firearms. However, federal law mandates licensed dealers perform background checks via the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) before transferring firearms to unlicensed individuals.4Legal Information Institute. 18 U.S. Code Chapter 44 – Firearms Private sales between unlicensed individuals are not subject to this federal requirement under state law.
Concealed vs Open Carry
Following the enactment of Senate Bill 319 in 2022, Georgia law generally treats open carry (visibly carrying a handgun) and concealed carry (carrying a handgun hidden from view) similarly for authorized individuals. The legislation allows “lawful weapons carriers” to carry handguns either way in most public locations without needing a state-issued Weapons Carry License.
The primary statute, Georgia Code Section 16-11-126, now focuses on who is authorized to carry—a lawful weapons carrier—rather than how the handgun is carried. For these individuals, the legal permissions and restrictions apply equally whether the firearm is carried openly or concealed in permissible locations. The emphasis is on the carrier’s legal status and the location, not the visibility of the handgun.
Restricted Locations
While Georgia permits lawful weapons carriers to have firearms in many public spaces, specific locations remain off-limits under state law, primarily outlined in Georgia Code Section 16-11-127. Carrying weapons is generally prohibited in courthouses, jails, prisons, and government buildings that restrict entry or screen visitors, though carry is allowed in accessible government buildings without such screening. Firearms are also restricted within 150 feet of polling places during elections and at nuclear power facilities.
Places of worship have a unique rule under Georgia Code Section 16-11-127(b)(4): carrying a weapon is forbidden unless the specific institution’s governing body explicitly permits it for lawful weapons carriers. State mental health facilities admitting patients involuntarily are also designated as firearm-restricted zones.
Educational settings are regulated by Georgia Code Section 16-11-127.1, which generally prohibits weapons within “school safety zones”—public or private schools (K-12, technical, college, university), their grounds, transportation, and functions.5Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. Georgia School Safety Laws While specific provisions exist for lawful weapons carriers on college campuses, restrictions still apply in areas like athletic venues, student housing, childcare facilities, faculty offices, and disciplinary hearing rooms.
Federal law adds further restrictions applicable within Georgia. Firearms are prohibited in federal facilities like post offices, federal courthouses, and VA hospitals under 18 U.S. Code Section 930. Airports are another area of federal control; while Georgia law permits carry up to the security checkpoint, federal regulations (49 CFR Section 1540.111) ban weapons beyond security screening and onto aircraft, except for authorized personnel.
Private property owners retain the right to exclude individuals with firearms from their premises, as affirmed by Georgia Code Sections 16-11-126(c) and 16-11-127(c).6Justia. Georgia Code § 16-11-126 – Having or Carrying Weapons This applies to businesses, homes, and other private properties. Individuals carrying firearms must leave if asked by the owner or authorized person to avoid potential trespass charges.
Penalties for Violations
Violating Georgia’s firearm laws can lead to serious consequences. Possession of a firearm by a person prohibited due to a prior felony conviction is itself a felony under Georgia Code Section 16-11-131(b), punishable by one to ten years imprisonment.7Justia. Georgia Code § 16-11-131 – Possession of Firearms by Convicted Felons Subsequent convictions carry a mandatory five-to-ten-year sentence. If the underlying conviction was for a “forcible felony,” the law mandates a five-year prison term for firearm possession. Attempting to purchase a firearm while prohibited due to a forcible felony conviction is also a felony.
Violating age restrictions carries specific penalties. Under Georgia Code Section 16-11-132, possession of a handgun by someone under 18 (outside legal exceptions) is a misdemeanor for a first offense (up to $1,000 fine and/or 12 months jail).8Justia. Georgia Code § 16-11-132 – Possession of Handgun by Person Under 18 A second offense becomes a felony, punishable by up to a $5,000 fine and/or three years imprisonment. Knowingly selling or furnishing a handgun to a minor is a felony under Georgia Code Section 16-11-101.1, carrying three to five years imprisonment and/or a fine up to $5,000.
Since the Constitutional Carry Act, penalties for carrying without a license apply primarily to those who do not meet the definition of a “lawful weapons carrier.” Carrying a weapon unlawfully under Georgia Code Section 16-11-126(g) is a misdemeanor for the first offense. A second or subsequent offense within five years is a felony, punishable by two to five years imprisonment, according to Georgia Code Section 16-11-126(h).9Justia. Georgia Code § 16-11-126 – Having or Carrying Weapons
Transporting Firearms
Georgia law addresses firearm transport within private vehicles. According to Georgia Code Section 16-11-126(a), any person legally allowed to possess a handgun or long gun may have or carry it inside their motor vehicle, regardless of whether they hold a Weapons Carry License. The law treats a private vehicle similarly to a person’s home regarding firearm possession for non-prohibited individuals.
Georgia Code Section 16-11-126(c) confirms the right of “lawful weapons carriers” to transport handguns or long guns within their private passenger vehicles.10Justia. Georgia Code § 16-11-126 – Having or Carrying Weapons State law does not specify restrictions on how the firearm must be stored (e.g., loaded or unloaded, encased) within the vehicle for these individuals.
For interstate travel through Georgia, the federal Firearm Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA), found at 18 U.S. Code Section 926A, offers protection.11Legal Information Institute. 18 U.S. Code § 926A – Interstate Transportation of Firearms This allows individuals to transport firearms legally between places where they are permitted to possess them, even through states with stricter laws. To qualify for FOPA protection, the firearm must be unloaded, and neither the firearm nor ammunition can be readily accessible from the passenger compartment. If the vehicle lacks a trunk, the unloaded firearm and ammunition must be kept in a locked container other than the glove compartment or center console.
