2025 Georgia Codes – Page 160

(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “Courthouse” means a building occupied by judicial courts and containing rooms in which judicial pro-
ceedings are held.
(2) “Government building” means:
(A) The building in which a government entity is housed;
(B) The building where a government entity meets in its official capacity; provided, however, that if such
building is not a publicly owned building, such building shall be considered a government building for the
purposes of this Code section only during the time such government entity is meeting at such building; or
(C) The portion of any building that is not a publicly owned building that is occupied by a government
entity.
(3) “Government entity” means an office, agency, authority, department, commission, board, body, division,
instrumentality, or institution of the state or any county, municipal corporation, consolidated government, or
local board of education within this state.
(4) “Parking facility” means real property owned or leased by a government entity, courthouse, jail, prison,
or place of worship that has been designated by such government entity, courthouse, jail, prison, or place
of worship for the parking of motor vehicles at a government building or at such courthouse, jail, prison, or
place of worship.
(b) Except as provided in Code Section 16-11-127.1 and subsection (d) or (e) of this Code section, a person
shall be guilty of carrying a weapon or long gun in an unauthorized location and punished as for a misde-
meanor when he or she carries a weapon or long gun while:
(1) In a government building without being a lawful weapons carrier;
(2) In a courthouse;
(3) In a jail or prison;
(4) In a place of worship, unless the governing body or authority of the place of worship permits the carrying
of weapons or long guns by persons who are lawful weapons carriers;
(5) In a state mental health facility as defined in Code Section 37-1-1 which admits individuals on an invol-
untary basis for treatment of mental illness, developmental disability, or addictive disease; provided, how-
ever, that carrying a weapon or long gun in such location in a manner in compliance with paragraph (3) of
subsection (d) of this Code section shall not constitute a violation of this subsection;
(6) On the premises of a nuclear power facility, except as provided in Code Section 16-11-127.2, and the
punishment provisions of Code Section 16-11-127.2 shall supersede the punishment provisions of this Code
section; or
(7) Within 150 feet of any polling place when elections are being conducted and such polling place is being
used as a polling place as provided for in paragraph (27) of Code Section 21-2-2, except as provided in
subsection (i) of Code Section 21-2-413.
(c) Any lawful weapons carrier shall be authorized to carry a weapon as provided in Code Section 16-11-135
and in every location in this state not listed in subsection (b) or prohibited by subsection (e) of this Code sec-
tion; provided, however, that private property owners or persons in legal control of private property 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 his or her 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. A violation of subsection (b) of this Code section shall
not create or give rise to a civil action for damages.
(d) Subsection (b) of this Code section shall not apply:
(1) To the use of weapons or long guns as exhibits in a legal proceeding, provided that such weapons or long
guns are secured and handled as directed by the personnel providing courtroom security or the judge hear-
ing the case;
(2) To a lawful weapons carrier who approaches security or management personnel upon arrival at a location
described in subsection (b) of this Code section and notifies such security or management personnel of the
presence of the weapon or long gun and explicitly follows the security or management personnel’s direction
for removing, securing, storing, or temporarily surrendering such weapon or long gun; and
(3) To a weapon or long gun possessed by a lawful weapons carrier which is under the possessor’s control in
a motor vehicle or is in a locked compartment of a motor vehicle or one which is in a locked container in or
a locked firearms rack which is on a motor vehicle and such vehicle is parked in a parking facility.
(e)(1) A lawful weapons carrier shall be authorized to carry a weapon in a government building when the
government building is open for business and where ingress into such building is not restricted or screened
by security personnel. A lawful weapons carrier who enters or attempts to enter a government building
carrying a weapon where ingress is restricted or screened by security personnel shall be guilty of a misde-
meanor if at least one member of such security personnel is certified as a peace officer pursuant to Chapter
8 of Title 35; provided, however, that a lawful weapons carrier who immediately exits such building or
immediately leaves such location upon notification of his or her failure to clear security due to the carrying
of a weapon shall not be guilty of violating this subsection or paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Code
section. A person who is not a lawful weapons carrier and who attempts to enter a government building car-
rying a weapon shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(2) Any lawful weapons carrier who violates subsection (b) of this Code section in a place of worship shall
not be arrested but shall be fined not more than $100.00. Any person who is not a lawful weapons carrier
who violates subsection (b) of this Code section in a place of worship shall be punished as for a misde-
meanor.
(f) 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.