In Georgia, there is specifc wording in the relevant legislation that allows a person to keep a loaded firearm in the vehicle in plain sight or in a glove box/console.
Concealed carry outside of your vehicle, residence and/or place of business, including hotel rooms as a residence, requires a permit issued by Georgia or one of the states that has reciprocity with GA. The state attorney general keeps a list on a web site. As of May 1, 2005, GA recognizes permits from Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
Carrying a firearm is forbidden in public-owned buildings, churches, political events, sporting events, and places where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises, including restaurants with a liquor license.
The relevant GA code is this:
16-11-126 (a) A PERSON COMMITS THE OFFENSE OF CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON WHEN SUCH PERSON KNOWINGLY HAS OR CARRIES ABOUT HIS OR HER PERSON, UNLESS IN AN OPEN MANNER AND FULLY EXPOSED TO VIEW, ANY BLUDGEON, METAL KNUCKLES, FIREARM, KNIFE DESIGNED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OFFENSE AND DEFENSE, OR ANY OTHER DANGEROUS OR DEADLY WEAPON OR INSTRUMENT OF LIKE CHARACTER OUTSIDE OF HIS OR HER HOME OR PLACE OF BUSINESS, EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THIS CODE SECTION. (b) UPON CONVICTION OF THE OFFENSE OF CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON, A PERSON SHALL BE PUNISHED AS FOLLOWS: (1) FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE, HE OR SHE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR; AND (2) FOR THE SECOND OFFENSE, AND FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, HE OR SHE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A FELONY AND, UPON CONVICTION THEREOF, SHALL BE IMPRISONED FOR NOT LESS THAN ONE YEAR AND NOT MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. (c) THIS CODE SECTION SHALL NOT PERMIT, OUTSIDE OF HIS OR HER HOME, MOTOR VEHICLE, OR PLACE OF BUSINESS, THE CONCEALED CARRYING OF A PISTOL, REVOLVER, OR CANCELABLE FIREARM BY ANY PERSON UNLESS THAT PERSON HAS ON HIS OR HER PERSON A VALID LICENSE ISSUED UNDER CODE SECTION 16-11-129 AND THE PISTOL, REVOLVER, OR FIREARM MAY ONLY BE CARRIED IN A SHOULDER HOLSTER, WAIST BELT HOLSTER, ANY OTHER HOLSTER, HIPGRIP, OR OTHER SIMILAR DEVICE, IN WHICH EVENT THE WEAPON MAY BE CONCEALED BY THE PERSON’S CLOTHING, OR A HANDBAG, PURSE, ATTACHÉ CASE, BRIEFCASE, OR OTHER CLOSED CONTAINER. CARRYING ON THE PERSON IN A CONCEALED MANNER OTHER THAN AS PROVIDED IN THIS SUBSECTION SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED AND SHALL BE A VIOLATION OF THE CODE SECTION. (d) THISCODE SECTION SHALL NOT FORBID THE TRANSPORTATION OF ANY FIREARM BY A PERSON WHO IS NOT AMONG THOSE ENUMERATED AS INELIGIBLE FOR A LICENSE UNDER CODE SECTION 16-11-129, PROVIDED THE FIREARM IS ENCLOSED IN A CASE, UNLOADED, AND SEPARATED FROM ITS AMMUNITION. THIS CODE SECTION SHALL NOT FORBID ANY PERSON WHO IS NOT AMONG THOSE ENUMERATED AS INELIGIBLE FOR A LICENSE UNDER CODE SECTION 16-11-129 FROM TRANSPORTING A LOADED FIREARM IN ANY PRIVATE PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE IN AN OPEN MANNER AND FULLY EXPOSED TO VIEW OR IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY PERSON IN POSSESSION OF A VALID PERMIT ISSUED PURSUANT TO CODE SECTION 16-11-129 MAY CARRY A HANDGUN IN ANY LOCATION IN A MOTOR VEHICLE. (e) ON AND AFTER OCTOBER 1, 1996, A PERSON LICENSED TO CARRY A HANDGUN IN ANY STATE WHOSE LAWS RECOGNIZE AND GIVE EFFECT WITHIN SUCH STATE TO A LICENSE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS PART SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO CARRY A HANDGUN IN THIS STATE, BUT ONLY WHILE THE LICENSEE IS NOT A RESIDENT OF THIS STATE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH LICENSE HOLDER SHALL CARRY THE HANDGUN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THIS STATE.
16-11-127 CARRYING DEADLY WEAPONS TO OR AT PUBLIC GATHERINGS. (a) A PERSON IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR WHEN HE OR SHE CARRIES TO OR WHILE AT A PUBLIC GATHERING ANY EXPLOSIVE COMPOUND, FIREARM, OR KNIFE DESIGNED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OFFENSE AND DEFENSE. (b) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CODE SECTION, ‘PUBLIC GATHERING’ SHALL INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO, ATHLETIC OR SPORTING EVENTS, SCHOOLS OR SCHOOL FUNCTIONS, CHURCHES OR CHURCH FUNCTIONS, POLITICAL RALLIES OR FUNCTIONS, PUBLICLY OWNED OR OPERATED BUILDINGS, OR ESTABLISHMENTS AT WHICH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE SOLD FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES. (c) THIS CODE SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO COMPETITORS PARTICIPATING IN ORGANIZED SPORT SHOOTING EVENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, PEACE OFFICERS RETIRED FROM STATE OR FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, JUDGES, MAGISTRATES, SOLICITORS, AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS MAY CARRY PISTOLS IN PUBLICLY OWNED OR OPERATED BUILDINGS.
16-11-128 CARRYING PISTOL WITHOUT LICENSE. (a) A PERSON COMMITS THE OFFENSE OF CARRYING A PISTOL WITHOUT A LICENSE WHEN HE OR SHE HAS OR CARRIES ABOUT HIS OR HER PERSON, OUTSIDE OF HIS OR HER HOME, MOTOR VEHICLE, OR PLACE OF BUSINESS, ANY PISTOL OR REVOLVER WITHOUT HAVING ON HIS OR HER PERSON A VALID LICENSE ISSUED BY THE JUDGE OF THE PROBATE COURT OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH HE OR SHE RESIDES, PROVIDED THAT NO PERMIT SHALL BE REQUIRED FOR PERSONS WITH A VALID HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE ON THEIR PERSON OR FOR PERSONS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW TO HAVE HUNTING LICENSES WHO ARE ENGAGED IN LEGAL HUNTING, FISHING, OR SPORT SHOOTING WHEN THE PERSONS HAVE THE PERMISSION OF THE OWNER OF THE LAND ON WHICH THE ACTIVITIES ARE BEING CONDUCTED; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE PISTOL OR REVOLVER, WHENEVER LOADED, SHALL BE CARRIED ONLY IN AN OPEN AND FULLY EXPOSED MANNER. (b) UPON CONVICTION OF THE OFFENSE OF CARRYING A PISTOL WITHOUT A LICENSE, A PERSON SHALL BE PUNISHED AS FOLLOWS: (1) FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE, HE OR SHE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR; AND (2) FOR THE SECOND OFFENSE, AND FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE, HE OR SHE IS GUILTY OF A FELONY, AND, UPON CONVECTION THEREOF, SHALL BE IMPRISONED FOR NOT LESS THAN ONE YEAR NOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. (c) ON AND AFTER OCTOBER 1, 1996, A PERSON LICENSED TO CARRY A HANDGUN IN ANY STATE WHOSE LAWS RECOGNIZE AND GIVE EFFECT WITHIN SUCH STATE TO A LICENSE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS PART SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO CARRY A HANDGUN IN THIS STATE, BUT ONLY WHILE THE LICENSEE IS NOT A RESIDENT OF THIS STATE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH LICENSE HOLDER SHALL CARRY THE HANDGUN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THIS STATE.
