Georgia Gun Control Laws

The state of Georgia holds mostly lenient gun laws. Rifles and shotguns are free from government regulations, other than hunting laws that apply. Handguns carry the brunt of Georgian gun laws. They may not be purchased by minors, and permits to carry and conceal them are may only be granted to those 21 years or older. One permit is used to allow for carry and concealment ability. After an application period of between 50 and 60 days, the permits are valid for five years, and must be renewed afterwards. Unlike most states, it is legal in Georgia to carry a gun in a business designated for liquor sales, as long as the individual has the correct permit for carrying the gun.

Carrying Guns and Possession Laws: Penalties & Regulations

• Carrying concealed handgun without the correct permit is a misdemeanor. The second and subsequent offenses are felonies.
  
• Openly carrying a handgun without the proper permit is a misdemeanor. The second and any further infractions are felonies.
  
• Use of a counterfeit or altered gun permit is a felony punishable by 1 to 5 years in jail.

Requirements:

Georgia Gun Purchasing Laws

Purchasing rifles and shotguns in Georgia is very simple. No age purchasing limit is specified in state code, and no permit to purchase is required. However, the purchase of handguns is limited to those 18 years or older. Guns in Georgia do not have to be registered with any authorities after their purchase. Criminal background checks are required by state law to be performed on any individual, business, or organization that wishes to buy any firearm(s).

Penalties & Regulations for Illegal Purchases

• Sale of firearms to felons or convicts is a felony punishable by 1 to 5 years in jail.
  
• It is a felony to persuade, or attempt to persuade a firearm dealer to transfer a bought firearm to any individual other than who bought it.
  
• Those with a handgun permit to carry/conceal no longer need to pass a background check before purchasing a firearm

Requirements:

Firing Handguns and Self Defense

Use of firearms for Self Defense has recently become a very acceptable practice. Georgia recently enacted the “stand your ground” type self-defense laws. This gives individuals the ability to avoid any legal penalties for defending his or her property with equal force to what they are attacked with from offenders. Use of a fire is also acceptable to protect a 3rd party. The following are not acceptable:

• Using a firearm when there is no threat to an individual’s life by the attacker
• If action can be avoided by other means

Legal Help

The gun laws in Georgia are lax in comparison to many other states; some of the laws are commonly broke. In such cases, an attorney should be used to help the individual avoid the most serious punishments. The following are some common infractions:

• Possession of a firearm while under the influence of a mind altering substance
• Possession of a firearm by a felon
• Possession of a firearm (with or without permit) at a public event