Georgia Gun Laws

Concealed & Open Carry

Georgia enacted constitutional carry under SB 319, effective April 12, 2022. Georgia residents aged 21 or older (18 for active-duty military) who can legally possess a firearm may carry a handgun openly or concealed without a Georgia Weapons Carry License (GWL). The GWL remains available for reciprocity with other states.

Key statute: O.C.G.A. § 16-11-126 — as amended by SB 319, provides that a person licensed or eligible to be licensed may carry a weapon in certain locations. O.C.G.A. § 16-11-129 — governs weapons carry license issuance.

Who Cannot Carry

Persons prohibited from carrying include: convicted felons, persons under 21 (18 for military), persons involuntarily hospitalized for mental health treatment within the past five years, persons adjudicated mentally incompetent, fugitives from justice, persons convicted of unlawful manufacture or distribution of controlled substances, persons convicted of certain misdemeanors within the past five years (including carrying a weapon without a license, pointing a weapon at another, or family violence battery).

Prohibited Locations

Georgia prohibits carry in: government buildings where screening is provided (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127(e)), courthouses, jails and prisons, mental health facilities, nuclear facilities, and within 150 feet of a polling place. Georgia generally allows carry in churches, bars, and government buildings without screening, making it more permissive than many states.

Purchase Requirements

No permit is required to purchase a firearm. All FFL sales require a federal NICS background check. Private sales do not require a background check under state law. There is no waiting period, no state firearms registry, and no state assault weapons ban. Georgia preempts local firearms regulations under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-173.

Citations

O.C.G.A. Title 16, Chapter 11, Article 4 (dangerous instrumentalities and practices); SB 319 (2022 Session).

Sources & official resources