Gun Laws Georgia

Overview: As of June 2025, Georgia maintains permissive gun laws, notably allowing permitless carry for lawful weapons holders aged 21 and older, while still offering optional carry permits for reciprocity with other states. Open and concealed carry are legal without a license, but firearms remain restricted in certain locations such as government buildings, schools, and polling places. The Georgia Supreme Court recently upheld the state’s ban on public carry for individuals under 21, except military personnel. In response to school violence, Governor Kemp signed House Bill 268 to strengthen school safety protocols, including mandatory threat reporting and panic buttons for staff. Proposed legislation like the Georgia Gun Safe Act seeks to introduce more regulation, while Senate Bill 47 promotes a sales tax holiday for firearms and ammunition to support conservation efforts.

Georgia Gun Laws
Carry Information
Legal & Resources

Question	Answer
Does Georgia have an Assault Weapons Ban?	🚫 No. Georgia does not ban assault‑style firearms at the state level.
Are background checks required for private gun sales?	🚫 No. Georgia does not require background checks on private transfers dealer sales still use federal NICS.
Are background checks required through FFL dealers?	✅ Yes. Licensed dealers must conduct NICS-based checks under federal law.
Is Georgia a Stand Your Ground state?	✅ Yes. Georgia is a Stand Your Ground state with no duty to retreat under O.C.G.A §16‑3‑23.1.
What kind of restrictions does Georgia have?	ℹ️ No permit or background check for purchasing firearms ℹ️ No assault weapon or magazine capacity restrictions ℹ️ Constitutional carry (permitless open & concealed carry since April 12, 2022) ℹ️ Statewide preemption ensures uniform regulations
Does Georgia have any gun storage laws?	🚫 No specific statewide safe storage law.
Can you buy firearms in bulk in Georgia ?	✅ Yes. No state imposed purchase limits.
Does Georgia have a red flag law?	🚫 No. Georgia has no Extreme Risk Protection Order law.
Age to purchase firearms?	ℹ️ 18+ for long guns, ℹ️ 21+ for handguns from dealers.
Do I have to register my guns in Georgia ?	🚫 No. No firearm registration required.
Do I need a permit to purchase a handgun?	🚫 No. No permit or license required to purchase.
Does Georgia have a waiting period for firearms?	🚫 No waiting period for purchases.

Does Georgia have an Assault Weapons Ban?

🚫 No. Georgia does not ban assault‑style firearms at the state level.

Are background checks required for private gun sales?

🚫 No. Georgia does not require background checks on private transfers dealer sales still use federal NICS.

Are background checks required through FFL dealers?

✅ Yes. Licensed dealers must conduct NICS-based checks under federal law.

Is Georgia a Stand Your Ground state?

✅ Yes. Georgia is a Stand Your Ground state with no duty to retreat under O.C.G.A §16‑3‑23.1.

What kind of restrictions does Georgia have?

ℹ️ No permit or background check for purchasing firearms
ℹ️ No assault weapon or magazine capacity restrictions
ℹ️ Constitutional carry (permitless open & concealed carry since April 12, 2022)
ℹ️ Statewide preemption ensures uniform regulations

Does Georgia have any gun storage laws?

🚫 No specific statewide safe storage law.

Can you buy firearms in bulk in Georgia ?

✅ Yes. No state imposed purchase limits.

Does Georgia have a red flag law?

🚫 No. Georgia has no Extreme Risk Protection Order law.

Age to purchase firearms?

ℹ️ 18+ for long guns,
ℹ️ 21+ for handguns from dealers.

Do I have to register my guns in Georgia ?

🚫 No. No firearm registration required.

Do I need a permit to purchase a handgun?

🚫 No. No permit or license required to purchase.

Does Georgia have a waiting period for firearms?

🚫 No waiting period for purchases.

Question	Answer
Does Georgia allow Open Carry?	✅ Permitless open carry is legal statewide since April 12, 2022 (SB 319).
Does Georgia allow Concealed Carry?	✅ Permitless concealed carry is legal statewide since SB 319; CCW permits still available for reciprocity.
Non‑Lethal Weapons?	✅ Covered under weapons – knives, stun devices allowed if legally possessed.
Places allowed to carry?	✅ Open and concealed carry allowed almost everywhere; carry permitted on private property and vehicles.
Places not allowed to carry?	🚫 Carry is prohibited in restricted zones: schools, courthouses, polling places, secure facilities.
States honored?	✅ Georgia honors all valid out‑of‑state carry permits (HB 218).
States reciprocate?	✅ Georgia Weapons Carry Licenses are recognized in these 33 states: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas Colorado Florida Idaho Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Michigan Mississippi Missouri Montana New Hampshire North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming ⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel.
Permit duration & renewal?	ℹ️ Weapons Carry License (WCL), which allows for concealed carry, is typically valid for five years.
Can you conceal anything other than a handgun?	🚫 No. Only handguns.
Permit Licensure?	ℹ️Probate Court in your county of residence is the authority that issues a Weapons Carry License (WCL), which allows you to legally carry a concealed firearm. However, it's important to note that Georgia enacted "permitless carry" legislation in 2022. This means that lawful weapons carriers who are Georgia residents are generally no longer required to possess a WCL to carry a concealed weapon within the state.

Does Georgia allow Open Carry?

✅ Permitless open carry is legal statewide since April 12, 2022 (SB 319).

Does Georgia allow Concealed Carry?

✅ Permitless concealed carry is legal statewide since SB 319; CCW permits still available for reciprocity.

Non‑Lethal Weapons?

✅ Covered under weapons – knives, stun devices allowed if legally possessed.

Places allowed to carry?

✅ Open and concealed carry allowed almost everywhere; carry permitted on private property and vehicles.

Places not allowed to carry?

🚫 Carry is prohibited in restricted zones: schools, courthouses, polling places, secure facilities.

States honored?

✅ Georgia honors all valid out‑of‑state carry permits (HB 218).

States reciprocate?

✅ Georgia Weapons Carry Licenses are recognized in these 33 states:

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Florida
Idaho
Indiana

Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri

Montana
New Hampshire
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina

South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

⚠️ Some states have residency or permit-type conditions. Always verify before travel.

Permit duration & renewal?

ℹ️ Weapons Carry License (WCL), which allows for concealed carry, is typically valid for five years.

Can you conceal anything other than a handgun?

🚫 No. Only handguns.

Permit Licensure?

ℹ️Probate Court in your county of residence is the authority that issues a Weapons Carry License (WCL), which allows you to legally carry a concealed firearm. However, it's important to note that Georgia enacted "permitless carry" legislation in 2022. This means that lawful weapons carriers who are Georgia residents are generally no longer required to possess a WCL to carry a concealed weapon within the state.

Resources	Links
State Licensing	Georgia.gov – Apply for Weapons Carry License (WCL) GA Attorney General – Reciprocity Map
Safety & Training Programs	GA DNR – “Give It A Shot” Beginner Shooting Courses GAFASTA – Pistol & Tactical Training Academy GA Online Gun Safety Course
Gun Rights & Legislation	GeorgiaCarry.org – Gun Rights Advocacy Giffords – Georgia Concealed Carry Law Overview
Regulations & Location Rules	Wikipedia – GA Gun-Laws Summary Giffords – Location Restrictions Map