Eligibility Requirements for Gun Ownership
Georgia follows both federal restrictions and its own about who can have a gun. For the most part, the state’s restrictions echo the federal ones.
You can see who’s not allowed to own guns in Georgia in the ATF’s website. These include:
- Fugitives from justice
- People convicted of felonies
- People discharged dishonorably from the Armed Forces
- Convicts of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes
Age Requirements for Gun Ownership and Purchase
The minimum age to buy a gun from private sellers (sellers who aren’t licensed dealers) in Georgia is 18. If buying from licensed dealers, it’s 18 for long guns and 21 for handguns.
That’s for buying a gun. The minimum age for possession or owning a gun is different.
Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-132 says that people under 18 may possess guns lawfully in certain cases, including these:
- When attending a hunter education course
- When attending a firearms safety course
- When practicing shooting at an established range
- When in an organized competition that involves firearm usage
- When hunting or fishing pursuant to a valid license
- When traveling to and from the previously mentioned activities
- When on real property under the control of their parent, legal guardian, or equivalent
Background Check Process
Background checks aren’t required for private gun sales in Georgia. They’re only required for gun sales from federally licensed gun dealers.
Background checks in the state go through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). When you buy from a licensed dealer, he initiates the check through that.
How to Sell a Gun in Georgia
It’s legal to sell guns to both licensed dealers and private or non-dealer parties in Georgia.
Simply ensure the private party you sell to isn’t prohibited by law from buying a gun in the state. You can learn more about private sales in our guide to how to sell a gun in Georgia.
Types of Firearms Regulated in Georgia
Georgia has no laws regulating the sale or possession of specific firearms. Residents should still follow federal laws here, however.
Open Carry Regulations
Open carry of rifles and shotguns is legal in most spaces in Georgia if the person doing it is legally allowed to own a firearm.
For handguns, it’s only legal if the person doing it is a “lawful weapons carrier.” As per Georgia SB 319, that refers to:
- Someone eligible for a weapons carry license under Georgia law
- Someone not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm
- A resident of any other state who would be eligible for a weapons carry license under Georgia law if they were Georgia residents
- A resident of any other state who is licensed to carry a weapon in that state
Concealed Carry Laws
Permitless concealed carry is legal in Georgia. The conditions for lawful concealed carry of handguns here are the same ones for open carry, so see the previous section.
Georgia CCW Reciprocity
Georgia has reciprocity with 33 states for its concealed carry permits. These include Alabama, South Carolinaa, Tennessee, and Florida.
Firearm Registration Guidelines
There is no gun registry in Georgia.
Red Flag Laws
There are no red flag laws in Georgia.
Georgia Gun Laws in Car
Georgia generally permits people to have or carry firearms inside their motor vehicles if they’re eligible to own guns, as per Ga. Code Ann. § 16-11-126.
Georgia Gun Storage Laws
Georga has no gun storage laws.
Georgia Self Defense Laws
Georgia follows Castle Doctrine, has Stand Your Ground self-defense laws, and mandates no duty to retreat when acting in self-defense or to defend others.
Recent Legislative Changes in Georgia Gun Laws
The latest change to Georgia’s gun laws was Governor Brian P. Kemp’s signing of SB 319 (the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act) and HB 218 (license reciprocity measure) into law. This took place on April 13, 2022.