2025 Georgia Codes – Page 159

As used in this part, the term:
(1) “Handgun” means a firearm of any description, loaded or unloaded, from which any shot, bullet, or other
missile can be discharged by an action of an explosive where the length of the barrel, not including any
revolving, detachable, or magazine breech, does not exceed 12 inches; provided, however, that the term
“handgun” shall not include a gun which discharges a single shot of 0.46 centimeter or less in diameter.
(2) “Knife” means a cutting instrument designed for the purpose of offense and defense consisting of a blade
that is greater than 12 inches in length which is fastened to a handle.
(2.1) “Lawful weapons carrier” means any person who is licensed or eligible for a license pursuant to Code
Section 16-11-129 and who is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing a weapon or long gun, any
resident of any other state who would otherwise be eligible to obtain a license pursuant to such Code section
but for the residency requirement, and any person licensed to carry a weapon in any other state.
(3) “License holder” means a person who holds a valid weapons carry license.
(4) “Long gun” means a firearm with a barrel length of at least 18 inches and overall length of at least 26
inches designed or made and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or made to use the energy
of the explosive in a fixed:
(A) Shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each
single pull of the trigger or from which any shot, bullet, or other missile can be discharged; or
(B) Metallic cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifle bore for each single pull of the trigger;
provided, however, that the term “long gun” shall not include a gun which discharges a single shot of 0.46
centimeter or less in diameter.
(5) “Weapon” means a knife or handgun.
(6) “Weapons carry license” or “license” means a license issued pursuant to Code Section 16-11-129.

(a) Any person who is not prohibited by law from possessing a handgun or long gun may have or carry on his
or her person a weapon or long gun on his or her property or inside his or her home, motor vehicle, or place
of business.
(b) Any person who is not prohibited by law from possessing a handgun or long gun may have or carry on his
or her person a long gun.
(c) Any person who is a lawful weapons carrier may transport a handgun or long gun in any private passenger
motor vehicle; provided, however, that private property owners or persons in legal control of private proper-
ty through a lease, rental agreement, licensing agreement, contract, or any other agreement to control access
to such private property shall have the right to exclude or eject a person who is in possession of a weapon or
long gun on their private property in accordance with paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Code Section 16-7-
21, except as provided in Code Section 16-11-135.
(d)(1) Any person licensed to carry a weapon in any other state shall be authorized to carry a weapon in this
state; provided, however, that:
(A) Such licensee licensed to carry a weapon in any other state shall carry the weapon in compliance with
the laws of this state; and
(B) No other state shall be required to recognize and give effect to a license issued pursuant to this part that
is held by a person who is younger than 21 years of age.
(2)(A) The Attorney General shall create and maintain on the Department of Law’s website a list of states
whose laws recognize and give effect to a license issued pursuant to this part.
(B) The Attorney General shall enter into an agreement with any state that requires an agreement to recog-
nize and give effect to a license issued pursuant to this part.
(e)(1) Any person with a valid hunting or fishing license on his or her person, or any person not required by
law to have a hunting or fishing license, who is engaged in legal hunting, fishing, or sport shooting when
the person has the permission of the owner of the land on which the activities are being conducted may
have or carry on his or her person a weapon or long gun while hunting, fishing, or engaging in sport shoot-
ing.
(2) Any person with a valid hunting or fishing license on his or her person, or any person not required by law
to have a hunting or fishing license, who is otherwise engaged in legal hunting, fishing, or sport shooting
on recreational or wildlife management areas owned by this state may have or carry on his or her person a
knife while engaging in such hunting, fishing, or sport shooting.
(f) Notwithstanding Code Sections 12-3-10, 27-3-1.1, 27-3-6, and 16-12-122 through 16-12-127, any lawful
weapons carrier may carry a weapon in all parks, historic sites, or recreational areas, as such term is defined
in Code Section 12-3-10, including all publicly owned buildings located in such parks, historic sites, and
recreational areas, in wildlife management areas, and on public transportation; provided, however, that a
person shall not carry a handgun into a place where it is prohibited by federal law.
(g)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (a) through (f) of this Code section, no person shall carry
a weapon unless he or she is a lawful weapons carrier.
(2) A person commits the offense of unlawful carrying of a weapon when he or she violates the provisions of
paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(h) Upon conviction of the offense of unlawful carrying of a weapon, a person shall be punished as follows:
(1) For the first offense, he or she shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; and
(2) For the second offense within five years, as measured from the dates of previous arrests for which con-
victions were obtained to the date of the current arrest for which a conviction is obtained, and for any sub-
sequent offense, he or she shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned for
not less than two years and not more than five years.
(i) Nothing in this Code section shall in any way operate or be construed to affect, repeal, or limit the exemp-
tions provided for under Code Section 16-11-130.