Help Deciphering Georgia CCW Law
Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:49 am
In March the family and I are taking a trip to Georgia to go to the Aquarium, Zoo and whatever else we can find to do. Naturally, wanting to make sure I was well informed of all the concealed laws in the states we would be passing through, I started researching the laws.
All of the states are pretty straight forward, except Georgia. I know this board is for us Texans, but I figured it's be as good of a place as any to get some help making sense of the law.
Here's the code in question, my main concern is the line "publicly owned and operated buildings". I assume that refers to government buildings (courthouse, PD, etc). Do ya'll come to the same conclusion?
Note: I can find no "definitions" for 16-11-127. 16-11-127.1 covers shools (FYI, since it's mentioned below).
Thanks!
All of the states are pretty straight forward, except Georgia. I know this board is for us Texans, but I figured it's be as good of a place as any to get some help making sense of the law.
Here's the code in question, my main concern is the line "publicly owned and operated buildings". I assume that refers to government buildings (courthouse, PD, etc). Do ya'll come to the same conclusion?
Note: I can find no "definitions" for 16-11-127. 16-11-127.1 covers shools (FYI, since it's mentioned below).
Thanks!
16-11-127. Carrying deadly weapons to or at public gatherings; affirmative defenses
(a) Except as provided in Code Section 16-11-127.1, 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, 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. Nothing in this Code section shall otherwise prohibit the carrying of a firearm in any other public place by a person licensed or permitted to carry such firearm by this part.
(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-general, and district attorneys may carry pistols in publicly owned or operated buildings.
(d) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of this Code section if a person notifies a law enforcement officer or other person employed to provide security for a public gathering of the presence of such item as soon as possible after learning of its presence and surrenders or secures such item as directed by the law enforcement officer or other person employed to provide security for a public gathering.