Robbed in Atlanta

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scribbler

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I live near spaghetti junction, which is not a great part of town but not a terrible one either. I was standing outside Saturday night talking to three female cousins/friends of mine, and a guy drove up and stuck a gun out the window and demanded our purses. Fortunately, I was not carrying my purse, but my cousins Susan just handed him her purse. He didn't get anybody else's though - my cousin Erin dialed 911 on her cell phone while he was standing there, and he took off.

I am still upset about this and unlikely to take any immeidtae action, but I was wondering if anyone there knew a code section of Ga. law to refer me to on carrying a concealed handgun? I am a paralegal and have access to code books. I also own a .38 pistol which my brother gave me years ago, which really just stays in a box under the bed. I now feel I would be safer if I could carry my pistol in my purse if I'm out at night alone - anywhere. I just want to explore the options.

I am not a violent person but I hate feeling unsafe right outside my home, and since it's a condo the private property rules may not apply.

Any thoughts or feedback from anyone would be appreciated.
 
Gwinnett, Dekalb or Fulton?

Anyway, go down to your county probate court, fill out the paperwork and give them the money. They'll direct you to the local sheriff's office to get fingerprinted.

Within 60ish days, your toter's permit will show up in the mail. Total cost is, IIRC, $50 or so.

(As you can see from your incident, your purse may not be the best place to keep your only gun. I keep a backup in mine, which is a specialty purse with a gun pocket accessible from the outside. I like it because I can keep my hand on the gun when walking through parking lots at night by myself.)
 
Go to www.packing.org and click on the section for Georgia. All the appropriate code sections are there.

If you want to obtain a concealed carry permit, go to your county probate court (that would probably be Dekalb if you live near Spaghetti Junction, maybe Gwinnett) and tell the probate clerk that you would like to get a carry permit. They will give you the appropriate forms, which you can fill out right there, and will collect the fee (look on www.packing.org to see what the fee is, I think it's about $35 but I'm not completely sure) and send you to get your fingerprints taken. They will then run a background check, and, provided that you pass the background check, you will get your permit in anywhere from a month to three months (90 days is the legal limit, they have to issue your permit in 90 days or provide reason why they haven't, such as if you didn't pass the background check).

I don't see any reason why a law-abiding person wouldn't get their carry permit. Even if you don't want to carry right now, you may want to in the future, and it also means that you don't have to get a NICS check every time you want to buy a gun from a dealer.
 
There's good news and bad news: GA is a "shall-issue" CCW state. If you fill out the paperwork, pass the background check, and take the appropriate training courses, you MUST be issued a permit to carry a handgun for lawful defense.

The bad news. You need to do some serious soul-searching. First off, you and your cousins were completely ignorant of your surroundings. That bad guy had to have been present and watching you; if you had been more alert, it's possible that you would've seen him before the attack took place. We can equip you with the latest uberblaster, but if you're unable or unwilling to develop the proper mindset, you're still going to get beaten (or worse) by a criminal.

You can't carry a gun to "scare" an attacker. If I'm a bad guy, and you present a weapon, I will open fire without a moment's hesitation. I have to assume that you have the willingness to cripple or kill me, and therefore, you have just designated yourself target No. 1. If you carry a gun, you have to accept the fact that you may be forced to take another person's life, and live with all of the associated consquences.

Don't start down the path of CCW until you're convinced that you can handle the responsibilities of carrying a weapon.
 
and one of 'em whipped out a cell phone... Well, you and your friends are lucky.
Click to expand...

This thread seem's a little fishy (1st post and a question like that). That is one of the things I was thinking, but I will always direct someone to some kind of info. I think being in the legal proffesion he is looking to find loop holes or just have a good knowledge of the law before hand.
 
I agree that a mindset adjustment is in order. Calling 911 while the guy has his gun on you?? I am having a hard time thinking of a more seriously dangerous thing to do than that...and that's putting it nicely.

A license # would be a good start.

A gun is but a tool. It is not a talisman. A gun fires, but you shoot it. Asking about a permit is a good step in the right direction, however. Just don't expect that permit to ward off evil all by itself.

I'm sure there's someone here on THR from around your area that can recommend a good self-defense class or two. You should take a defensive handgun class immediately, even before you get your permit.

- Gabe
 
Thanks

Thanks for all the good information and suggestions.

FYI - I am a female.

I am also a writer, and next time I do research on appropriate topics I might throw open some questions in this forum and get some opinions.

The robbery happened so fast I don't think Erin was thinking about anything but safety and that's why she dialed 911. She had never been involved in anything like that before, and had the phone in her hand, and I guess it just seemed the thing to do. Maybe it was wrong - but I admire her. I probably would've been too paranoid to try until after he left.

We tried to get the tag number but he had it covered up.

I have lived in this condo for five years and never seen or heard of anything like this - and the management company is good about sending out notices of things like radios getting stolen out of cars. But this was more serious. I will call them today.

I haven't decided what to do about getting a carry permit. I have conflicting emotions - wanting to feel safe, but not wanting to accidentally shoot anyone.

A girlfriend of mine suggested if I ever get in a similar situation to screm like a banshee and lay on the ground. If I had done that Saturday, though, he might've run over me.....
 
If I lived in GA.
I think I would take the appropriate courses and apply for a FL license.
It is good in GA plus many other States.


I haven't decided what to do about getting a carry permit. I have conflicting emotions - wanting to feel safe, but not wanting to accidentally shoot anyone.
Click to expand...


Putting your emotions aside.
Most others will probably agree.
I have never even had to pull my gun out let alone almost accidentally shoot someone. I think a class will make you feel more comfortable with your decision.
 
Hey Scribbler, and welcome to The High Road. Too bad about the circumstances but I'm happy for you that everybody involved is OK. I've lived in the Atlanta area for quite a while and I can recommend a good gun shop for you that's in the area. American Classic Marksman is on Peachree Industrial at Medlock Bridge Road. A bunch of good folks there. We shoot IDPA on Wednesday nights and several of the regulars are personal defense trainers. Drop by sometime, we'll leave the light on.
 
MonkeyMan,

Do they still have a real active Ladies Night at American Classic Marksman?

I think some other High Roaders like Shoeless and GeorgeAtl hang out there on IDPA nights, too.
 
A girlfriend of mine suggested if I ever get in a similar situation to screm like a banshee and lay on the ground. If I had done that Saturday, though, he might've run over me.....
Click to expand...

Or anything else he wanted, really. The business end of a .38 makes a much more powerful argument than a glorified temper tantrum. Good luck and welcome to the forums.
 
I don't think Erin was thinking about anything but safety and that's why she dialed 911.
Click to expand...
The problem is, dialing 911 isn't going to keep you safe. If anything it put you all at far greater risk.
I probably would've been too paranoid to try until after he left.
Click to expand...
That was your brain telling you how dangerous the situation was and that the risk/reward quotient involved in dialing 911 didn't work out in your favor. The telephone is not going to save you. The threat was there at that moment, the police were not. This is the typical scenario. You will be on your own when the threat arrives...as you were that day. Only you, and not the people on the telephone, can provide for your own safety.

It sounds to me like you understand this, otherwise I doubt you'd be asking about how to go about carrying a handgun.

You're not going to shoot anyone by accident anymore than you're going to strangle someone by accident. The gun requires input from you to fire. It will not fire by itself. There are millions of people in this country alone who own and carry guns for defense of themselves and others every day. The number of accidental shootings in comparison to the number of guns in use around the country is a statistical non-event.

Guns are also not all that complicated. There are very few controls and only a couple of safety rules involved. They are a fantastic defensive weapon for just these reasons. A handgun is reliable, easily employed, safe and effective. A minimum of training will bring you up to a base level of competency with the pistol, from there the sky's the limit. Handguns are easy to use, but difficult to master.

Here at THR you will find a bottomless resource to answer any questions you may have, but hands-on instruction is what you need. Take these people up on their offers to meet with you.

As for your emotional issues, you're going to have to come to grips with that one on your own. You have some soul-searching to do. If you don't believe, really believe, that you could shoot, and possibly kill, another person to save yourself or someone else from harm, than a gun is not for you.

I guess screaming and laying on the ground is always an option...

- Gabe
 
If you are a Ga resident, you will need a Ga permit to legally carry in this state, per:

http://www.ganet.org/cgi-bin/pub/ocode/ocgsearch?docname=OCode/G/16/11/126

The pages following the one on this link address most Ga legal issues surrounding carrying a weapon, just page thru them.

Lot's of folks begin carrying after an incident like yours, incl. my wife. Apply for your permit, and get some training while you wait for it. Safe gun handling skills and a basic understanding of the conditions under which you can use lethal force will allay your fears abt wrongfully shooting someone. Most firing ranges or gun clubs could direct you to someone for training, incl. the previous suggestion. Also, call Bernie's Sport's Center (770-381-9897); they offer classes and aren't too far from you. I can connect you with a police academy firearms trainer who also happens to be a lawyer if you like; he's very good w/both training and legalities.

BTW, laying down and screaming just makes you a noisy, submissive, stationary target. Running away screaming makes a lot more sense.
 
Tamara, they stopped doing the ladies only night a month or so back. The person running it had to free his schedule up a bit. I've not met the man who ran the class where a very close friend (female btw) took a basic pistol class but she spoke very highly of his ability.
 
Good post, Gabe.
Scribbler, I agree that you need some serious training in not only the actions of self-defense, but in your whole approach to the subject. Not trying to flame you a bit, but rather encouraging you to devote a little effort looking into the techniques of using that tool in a box under your bed, as well as the considerations and consequences of using it.

Welcome to THR; stay a while.

TC
TFL Survivor
 
Scribbler, if you decide to pursue a CCW, look into some training classes. A few good firearm training classes will improve your shooting dramatically, give you training in actually getting your gun out of the holster, and go a long way towards giving you the confidence you will need if you are ever forced in to a situation in which it is neccessary to use it.
 
welcome to THR

like normal,all good advice.please follow-thru.

glad nobody was hurt:)

bad way to learn you're responsible for your own safety:(

clown
 
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