2017 – HB280 (a.k.a. Campus Carry Bill)
• Allows a weapons carry license holder to carry a handgun concealed while on campus of public technical schools and public colleges. HB280 does not allow for campus carry at private technical schools or private colleges. However, a person with a Georgia Weapons License may carry a firearm while dropping off or picking up a student and also may keep a firearm in a motor vehicle while parked on campus of a private school.
Certain rooms or buildings on campuses of public technical schools and public colleges remain off-limits to carry. These rooms or buildings include: student housing, faculty, staff, or administrative offices or rooms where disciplinary proceedings are conducted, rooms where high school students are enrolled, rooms where there is preschool or childcare, rooms being used for classes related to a college and career academy or other specialized school as provided for under Code Section 20-4-37.
• Prohibits “financial services” from discriminating against persons or companies in the firearms business.
• Changes the definition of a knife to 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. Previous definition was a blade greater than 5″ in length.
• Will allow for a person moving into GA who has a valid firearms license or permit to carry on that permit for 90 days or upon person attaining a GWL;
• Provides that any person with a valid hunting or fishing license may have or carry a weapon without a GWL. Previously could only carry a firearm.
• Allow for certain law enforcement officers to carry when in performance of their official duties;
• Provides for Probate Judge and the DNR to offer Gun Safety Information to applicants for GWL
• Gives law enforcement 20 days to report to the Probate Judge any findings that may bear upon the issuance of a GWL, reducing the time frame for issuance of GWL to 35 days.
• The judge of the probate court shall not suspend the processing of the application or extend, delay, or avoid any time requirements
• Provides a path to repeal the GWL upon adjudication of a matter that would effect the maintenance of a GWL;
• Provides for a name change due to marriage or divorce or an address change if the GWL’s expiration date is over 90 days out. The fee for such replacement is determined by Code Section 15-9-60 (k)(13) and is currently $6.00
• Makes changes to Code Section 16-11-130
• Defines the term commercial service airport;
• Defines the term major airline carrier;
• Provides a path for a person who has been involuntarily hospitalized to apply for restoration of rights.
• Provides that any instructor who lawfully instructs, educates, or trains a person in the safe, proper, or technical use of a firearm shall be immune from civil liability for any injuries caused by the failure of such person to use such firearm properly or lawfully.
• Clarifies that government buildings are off limits only to those who do not hold a valid GWL
• Clarifies that carrying within 150′ of a polling place is off limits ONLY when an election is taking place.
• Clarifies that the Probate Judge cannot require a fingerprint background check when the holder has a valid GWL, regardless of the county the GWL was issued. (The Judges were requiring a background check for any license that was not originally issued in their county. This practice will stop upon this bill being signed and the effective date reached.)
• Allows for school systems to decide punishment for any weapon carried to school by a student with the exception of firearms, dangerous weapons or machine guns or unless weapons defined as such in 16-11-127.1 are used in an assault.
• Sets the date a GWL can be renewed to 90 days before and 30 days after expiration. The license can be renewed anytime during that 4 months.
• Defined “Armed Forces” for the purpose of 16-11-129.
• Sets the procedure for a State or Superior Court to notify the Probate Court when a GWL holder is convicted of any crime that would disqualify the holder from holding a license.
• Requires the Probate Court to notify GCIC immediately or no later than ten days of any license holder who is involuntarily committed to a mental institution.
• Clarifies the procedure for the State or Superior Courts to determine the validity of a GWL.
• Added “political subdivision and school district” to the list of those who cannot institute gun control laws.
• Changed the definition of weapon in 16-11-173 from the same meaning in 16-11-127.1 to “means any device designed or intended to be used, or capable of being used, for offense or defense, including but not limited to firearms, bladed devices, clubs, electric stun devices, and defense sprays.”
2014 – HB60 (a.k.a. The Guns Everywhere Bill)
• Removes fingerprint requirement for renewing Weapons Carry Licenses (WCL).
• Prohibits the state from creating and maintaining a database of WCL holders.
• Creates an absolute defense for the legal use of deadly force in the face of a violent attack.
• Lowers the age to obtain a concealed WCL from 21 to 18 for active duty military with specific training.
• Allows for the use of firearm sound suppressors while hunting.
• Repeals the unnecessary and duplicative state-required license for a firearms dealer, instead requiring only a Federal Firearms License (FFL).
• Prohibits a ban on firearms in public housing, ensuring that the right to self-defense should not be infringed based on where one calls home.
• Codifies the ability to legally carry, with a WCL, in sterile/non-secure areas of airports.
• Provides a license holder who is notified he or she is in possession of a weapon at an airport screening checkpoint the ability to leave the restricted access area without being charged with a state crime.
• Requires reporting of those persons who have been involuntarily hospitalized or have been adjudicated mentally deficient to the NICS system while also providing the ability for relief through an application process to the court system allowing for restoration of gun rights.
• Protects the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners from being restricted or infringed by executive authority under a declared state of emergency.
• Strengthens current firearms preemption statutes through further clarification of the regulatory authority of local governments, excluding firearm discharge ordinances.
• Removes the sweeping restrictions on legally carrying a firearm with a WCL in bars, leaving this decision to private property owners.
• Allows for churches to opt-in for legal carry with only a civil penalty of a $100 if a person happens to carry into a prohibited church unknowingly.
• Removes parking lots from places off limits.
• Allowed carry of weapons into bars with owner’s permission.
• Removed the 1000′ buffer from “School Safety Zones”.
• Made carrying on school property a misdemeanor with license and felony without license.
• Allowed for weapons on airport property, but not in sterile areas of the airport.
• Eliminated Georgia’s ambiguous public gathering law.
• Allows people with firearms licenses to carry a firearm into restaurants that serve alcohol, on public transportation, and in state parks.
• Relaxes car carry restrictions for people who do not have but are eligible for firearms licenses.
• Tightens the time frames for issuance of firearms licenses by probate judges.