justin1213:
Welcome to The Georgia Open Carry Thread!
Congradulations on Receiving Your Georgia Weapons Carry License!
I will Surmise Georgia Law for You, however; I must First Point out that I am NOT a Lawyer and My Advice can not be Construed as Legal Advice.
First and Foremost, under Your Immediately Preceding Thread, You Inquire that Carrying a Firearm is Illegal at Public Gatherings. This is NO Longer True.
The Georgia General Assembly Substansially and Comprehensively Revised Georgia Law on as to where: Firearms, Weapons, and LongGuns; may now be Carried Lawfully.
Under Georgia Law 16-11-125.1 there are now Two Additional Classifications of 'Dangerous Instrumentalities' as are Codified under Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of Volume 14A of The Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
The Newest Two Classifications are: 1. 'Weapons' AND 2. 'LongGuns'.
Under Georgias' Newest Firearm-related Statute, 16-11-125.1., Weapons are Defined as HandGuns, per Georgia Code 16-11-125.1(1), and Knives, under Georgia Code 16-11-125.1(2).
Handguns and Knives, being Weapons, are set apart from LongGuns, under Georgia Code 16-11-125.1(4).
Secondly, Georgia Code 16-11-126 was Substansially Revised as well in Relevant as to how a Person may Lawfully Carry Weapons and LongGuns in Public.
The Crime of: 'Carrying a Concealed Weapon'; was Replaced with: 'Carrying a Weapon without a Georgia Weapons Carry License, Penalty for Violating Licensing Requirement'.
Georgia Code 16-11-127 was also Revised to Read: 'Carrying a Weapon or LongGun [OMIT] while at an Unauthorized Location', and no longer States: 'Carrying a Firearm to or while at a Public Gathering'. The Crime of Carrying a Firearm to or while at a Public Gathering was REPEALED.
*** Georgia Code 16-11-127(d) Enumerates Three Exceptions as a Defense for Carrying a Weapon or LongGun while at any UnAuthorized Location in Violation of Georgia Code 16-11-127(b). ***
Georgia Code 16-11-127.1 mostly underwent NO Changes, aside from The REPEAL of The 1000' Rule around Schools. Therefore, You can Incur NO Charges from Carrying a: Firearm, Weapon, or LongGun; within a 1000' of a School, UNLESS; you ACTUALLY 'Step-Foot' on School Property. Should that Occur, with a License, such Charge is ONLY a Misdemeanor, however; without a License such Charge is a Felony.
Georgia Code 16-11-128 was REPEALED as well. However, under Georgia Code 16-11-126, a HandGun is a Weapon and, therefore, a Person needs a Georgia Weapons Carry License to Carry a Weapon in Public.
Georgia Code 16-11-129 underwent Various Changes, among them: Removal of The Life-Time Prohibitor for Misdemeanor Drug Convictions, Removal of 3 Year Prohibitor for now Antiqueted Firearm-related Cahrges Pre-SB308, AND Removal of Old License in Favor of a New License to Debut from The Probate Courts in 2012.
I would Suggest you Familiarize yourself with SB308, as it is now Georgia Law :
http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/versions/sb308_SB308_APP_23.htm
I also Suggest that you Read The Firearm Summaries Availiable at Georgia Packing:
http://www.georgiapacking.org/law.php
http://www.georgiapacking.org/GaCode/
http://www.georgiapacking.org/caselaw/
Furthermore, Please Visit Georgia Carry Website, as Listed below:
http://georgiacarry.org/
http://www.georgiacarry.org/cms/current-bills/ (These Bills are CURRENTLY before our State Legisature, and are ONLY Proposals at this Time, NOT Law.)
aadvark
*** If You have ANY other Firearm-related Questions, feel Free to Ask! I will Gladly Help You to Better Learn and Understand Georgias' Firearm Laws! ***
*** The Laws on The Back of Your Georgia Weapons Carry License are REPEALED, and, therefore, NO Longer Apply to You..., should..., this Appear:
http://www.georgiapacking.org/gfl.php ***
*** Police CAN NOT Arrest you for a Public Gathering Violation, that Law is Repealed, regardless of what Your Georgia Weapons Carry License Reads. DO NOT let The Police, or anyone Else, Bully You into Thinking that You are Violating Your Permit if You Carry a Firearm into any Place on The Back of Your Permit, it is FALSE. ***
*** The Reason your Permit Reads: 'Georgia Firearms License' is because The New Template for The New Georgia Weapons Carry License will not be UnVeiled until January. 1, 2012. The New Permit will have The Correct Laws on it, along with Your Picture AND Special Security Features. ***