Moving to GA, need CCW permit info...

[Dgreno]

Hello all,
In May I will be relocating to Georgia (if it matters, I will be living in Effingham county). I currently have my VA CCW permit and would like to get my GA permit as soon as I move. I know that I have to apply for it in person, in the county I will be residing, but I don't know what kind of training courses (if any) are required. I have taken a NRA course for my VA permit so I am hoping that that is sufficient. Everywhere I look, all I have seen is that they only require positive ID to apply (and money). If anyone can elaborate on this, please do...
Thanks!!

EDIT: I thought I was posting this in "Legal". Mods, please move if necessary...

 

[Nugilum]

I moved to Effingham county in 2005, and was there for about a year. My parents are still there and I visit often. PM me with ANY questions you have about the area!

On the CCW permit, I have one from Utah and the clerk just performed a "renewal" for my GA CCW Permit since the Utah permit was more stringent than the Georgia. You will need to go to the Probate office in Springfield and be sure you've already changed your Drivers license for proof of residency. I didn't take any training courses.

http://www.dds.ga.gov/locations/dllocations.aspx?csc=62

http://www.georgiapacking.org/gfl2.php?id=50

http://www.effinghamcounty.org/

Concealed Weapons Permit
* Must be 21 years old
* Must be a resident of Effingham County
* Must have a government issued picture ID

Fee for New Licenses — $47.00
* Application must be filled out in the Probate Court office.
* You must then go to the Sheriff’s Office to have fingerprints records made (Fingerprinting may be done between 8:30AM - 4:00PM at Sheriff’s Office)
* License will be mailed to applicant within 4 to 5 weeks.
* Licenses are valid for 5 years.
* You must surrender your old license at the time of renewal.


As a heads up, Effingham are @$$es about Drivers licences and vehicle registration. Transfer your auto insurance to you new address BEFORE you go and change your license plate (they call it a "tag").

Good luck!

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

Nugilum basically summed up the process.

There is NO training requirement in Georgia, and it is a "shall issue" state, meaning that the court is required to issue the permit unless you have some disqualification (legal history of mental illness, serious misdemeanor, multiple DUI, domestic violence, drug offense, dishonorable military discharge, or felony criminal record). You will need state or federal ID with your new Georgia address on it.

Be advised that state law requires that the permit shall be issued within 60 days, but actually getting it that quickly is unusual. It generally takes 90-120 days, depending on county. Courts, as well as the Attorney General will not support the 60-day law, so it is generally not followed. However, some counties are relatively quick about it. YMMV.

Additionally, you are NOT required to disclose your SSN or employer info, even though it is still on the application form. There is a recent legal precedent regarding this (Camp vs. Cason). You can't be denied for failure to disclose this info, regardless of what they tell you.

As far as practical GA CCW, read the laws OCGA 16-11-126 through 16-11-129 (especially 16-11-127), as well as 16-12-123 for the numerous places off-limits to CCW in Georgia. We really do have the most restrictive carry laws in the USA. Note that you can't carry anywhere that alcohol is served period, not even openly like in VA. Also, while open carry is legal with a permit only, it is not common here. Furthermore, carry on or even near any public transportation is a felony. Any building paid for or operated by tax dollars is off-limits as well.

Welcome to Georgia!

 

[bharen]

Welcome to Georgia! What others have listed here is accurate. Georiga is technically a 'shall issue' state, but there have been a lot of issues with certain probate court judges (the issuing authority in each county) that make many now question the 'shall issue' part of the law.

I strongly encourage you to check out www.georgiapacking.org and www.georgiacarry.org. These interrelated groups have been working hard over the past few years to force local officials to comply with state law regarding license issue and privacy (like requiring SSN on the application).

Just this year the group's efforts forced the State Supreme Court to rule on the '60 day shall issue' clause in current law. Because the law was so poorly written there was a lot (too much) wiggle room that allowed probate courts to basically take as long as they wanted to issue a license. Unfortunately the court decision went against us, but the outcome DID force legislators to recognize how poorly written the law is and there is now a series of bills moving through the legislature that tighten up the law and clean up a lot of the ambiguous language.

Overall, however, Georgia is a great place to carry. Georgians overall seem to be very comfortable with the idea of concealed carry and for most it is no big deal. In fact, my wife teaches at a local elementary school and most of the teachers who grew up here in Georgia have their carry permits. Seems it was almost a right of passage for their generation - something all 'Georgia Peaches' did!

 

[Dgreno]

Thank you for your help. I am going to switch my car and drivers license to GA in Feb. I will also go apply for my permit then...
Thanks again!

 

[Cacique500]

Also keep in mind that once you change your drivers license to GA (and you become a "resident"), your other CCW permits are no longer valid for carry in the state of Georgia...you will need to wait for your GA CCW at that point before you can carry again in-state. :banghead:

 

[Dgreno]

So, If I get (apply for) my GA CCP, I cant carry under any other CCP in GA until I get it? Is that right? The only other one I have is VA (not valid in GA), will that still be valid in VA?

 

[Mojo-jo-jo]

That is correct. As a Georgia resident you CAN NOT carry on an out-of-state permit. You must wait until you receive your Georgia permit to carry. Your Virginia permit will cease to be valid in Georgia when you get your Georgia driver's license.

O.C.GA 16-11-126(e) says:

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 licenseholder shall carry the handgun in compliance with the laws of this state.

I also want to reiterate (since this is confusing for some that are from other states) that you can not carry a firearm either openly or concealed anywhere that alcohol is served in Georgia. This includes not just bars, but restaurants that serve alcohol (like Applebees or Pizza Hut) as well. I'm just pointing this out because it is quite different than what you are used to. Read the OCGA 16-11-127 as well as 16-12-123 carefully. There are many off-limits places in Georgia that you may not be familiar with.

The good news is that "no guns allowed" signs mean nothing here--they themselves carry no force of law. However, many legally enumerated off-limits places are not posted as such either, you just have to know the law well.