Virginia Senator to Bring Back Expanded Background Check Bill

“It’s coming back,” said Virginia Senator Joe Manchin Tuesday about his bipartisan bill to expand background checks on gun sales, a bill which failed to pass on its first run through the Senate last month. [more]

HOUSTON - Members of the National Rifle Association were assured that they would never have to surrender their firearms. Along with this statement they were told that the fight against government gun control is far [more]

Senate Rejects Expanded Gun Background Checks

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans backed by a small band of rural-state Democrats scuttled the most far-reaching gun control legislation in two decades Wednesday, rejecting tighter background checks for buyers and a ban on assault weapons [more]

Day of Reckoning for Expanded Background Checks

D-Day: Today, consideration of the Manchin-Toomey background check proposal and a myriad other gun amendments, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity clips, will be the main event on Capitol Hill. The outcome of [more]

Deal Reached on Gun Background Check Bill

WASHINGTON - Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. announced that they have reached a compromise bill on Wednesday that expands background checks on gun purchases, and possibly paving the way for votes [more]

Both Gun Control Parties Make Public Appeal

WASHINGTON — Two of the loudest voices in the gun debate say it’s up to voters now to make their position known to Congress. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and National Rifle Associate Executive Vice President [more]

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Georgia Background Check and Gun Laws

Subject/Law	Long guns	Handguns	Relevant Statutes	Notes
State Permit to Purchase?	No	No	None
Firearm registration?	No	No	None
"Assault weapon" law?	No	No	None
Owner license required?	No	No	None
Carry permits issued?	No	Yes	OCGA §16-11-129	Concealed or open carry allowed with permit. See also OCGA §43-38-10 which is a special permit for armed security guards.
State Preemption of local restrictions?	Yes	Yes	OCGA §16-11-173	Despite state preemption, several localities continue to have local gun restrictions. Recent court rulings have resulted in many of these ordinances being withdrawn.
NFA weapons restricted?	No	No	None
Peaceable Journey laws?	No	No	None	Federal rules observed.
Unlicensed open carry?	Yes	No	OCGA 16-11-128	A Georgia Firearms License (GFL), or a recognized out-of-state permit, is required for open carry of any pistol or revolver outside of one's home, motor vehicle, or place of business.

Georgia is a "shall issue" state, and issues firearms permits to residents through a county probate court.

Georgia recognizes permits from any other state which recognizes Georgia's permit, provided the non-resident individual would meet the eligibility requirements for a Georgia Firearms License as a resident.

Vehicle carry is allowed if the possessor is eligible for a permit. An eligible person without a permit must keep a firearm unloaded in a case separated from ammunition, or loaded and fully exposed to view (Lindsey vs State of Georgia indicates that the firearm must be fully visible to all possible observers), or loaded in a closed compartment of the vehicle. Permit holders may carry a firearm open or concealed anywhere within a vehicle.

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.

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:

federally-controlled areas (such as national parks, inside the boundaries of which guns must be kept securely locked)
nuclear power facilities
any federal buildings or property
any public gathering (includes, but is not limited to, athletic or sporting events, churches or church functions, political rallies and/or functions, publicly owned or operated buildings)
any place licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on premises (excluding restaurants that serve alcohol)
wildlife management areas, except by a licensed hunter in an appropriate open season (not during a primitive weapon season)
any school building or grounds (except for authorized teachers and staff)

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