Georgia Carry Via Texas Reciprocity

[CEOofEVIL]

Howdy Folks,

I'll be making a trip to Savannah Georgia in the coming month with my wife to visit family. I'm kind of up in the air over deciding on carrying there or not - I've been doing my best to research Georgia's carry laws and everything seems pretty on the level. There are some differences, but since they had their carry laws revised, their laws show some similiarites with ours. I've carried before on trips/vacations but to be honest, they've all been in Texas (who'd wanna leave our great state anyway?! ) so making my First out of state trip makes me kinda nervous. I'm not sure how "nice" Savannah is, never having been there before but from the description it doesn't sound like it carries any additional danger compared to my city of residence (and we all know how "Dangerous" El Paso is! ). Still, I do not want to go unarmed unless absolutely nessecery - y'all know how that goes.

I do know that we'll be doing the normal tour of the historic sites and what not, and it seems OK (as far as Georgia law is concerned) to carry to those places. I'm sure I'll make a trip to some of the wonderful microbreweries I've heard of in the city, but I most certainly wouldn't be carrying to any of them. The main purpose of the trip is for a Marathon my wife, SIL and BIL are running - I can't imagine carrying to that being an issue.

Aside from the overall jitters of just carrying in another state, my SIL is pretty anti-gun and I know it would chafe her hide if she found out I was carrying. I know, I know, the Doctrine of "Concealed means concealed" applies here - the problem being I really don't want to inadvertantly start a ruckus if by chance she does find out. For instance, I visited my father in Dallas a few months back and he is not friendly to the idea of Carry at all. He didn't know I was carrying at all, or that I even had brought my gun until he accompanied me to the Airport. At the check-in counter I of course had to declare my handgun - he was standing right behind me and was less than thrilled to find out about this. Didn't cause any unpleasantries as my father and I both respect each other highly, so in the end no hard feelings were bestowed. My wife and I highly value the right to carry, and I don't mean to come across rude but there is really no comparison between our right to defend our lives and/or possibly offending someone. Still though, I live my life as to avoid conflict or intentionally offending folks and my conscience ensures that I keep this in mind at almost all times. At any rate - I Digress. Has anyone else carried to Georgia, or Savannah in particular? Any thoughts, or tips you might feel fit to throw my way? I'm still unsure if I'll be carrying this trip or not, but we'll see!

Thanks for the help!

Oh, by the way, I did search the forum to see if anyone had previously posted on this topic and found this: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=37048&p=439484&hili ... ry#p439484" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , and it was pretty helpful. However due to it's age I thought I might check if anyone had anymore up to date experiences.

[unhappycamper]

Watch out for schools. Some people make a big deal about GFSZA when Texans ask about nonresident licenses and the same law affects Texans carrying out of state without that state's CHL.

[CEOofEVIL]

Thanks for the heads up! Considering I may not be in control of the vehicle and what path we are traveling, this does concern me as a possible issue. Additionally, I'm not 100% sure what grounds the staging area of the Marathon will be. It very well may be within the 1,000 foot window of a GFSZA area. I still think it's pretty crazy that you need to have your liscensed issued by the state you are in in order to be exempted from the GFSZA if you are carrying under reciprocity. Law never fails to have hidden pitfalls and loopholes.

Thanks again

[denwego]

OMG SCHOOL ZONES



Seriously, just carry your pistol and license and go on with life. You'll be just fine. Fearmongers monger too much fear

[SewTexas]

one of my best friend's lives in GA and they/or maybe just he carries. I know I can carry when I'm there, but typically I'm just staying at the house helping with kids, so I don't.

I do tend to tell my son, "don't scare the children or old ladies" but to live your live so as not to offend...well, I guess I'm much more of a blunt Texas girl...if I've offended someone, oh, well, get in line, I'll think about an apology later, but I will not apologize for taking steps to protect me and mine.

[apostate]

Fortunately, the public gathering rule is no more, so carry at the marathon should be fine, as long as you're not otherwise in a prohibited place.

[wharvey]

Haven't legally carried in Georgia but have in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, and of course Texas. Oh, forgot Michigan. In other words it is no big deal. Just use common sense, realize that gun buster signs do count, only Texas has the 30.06. You've already checked out the particulars on Georgia laws so you should be good to go.

As to the anti-gun relatives, I personally don't worry about it. If they find out I'm carrying and are offended, I'd just tell them that their attitude offends me. In other words, I don't care what my relatives, or anyone else for that matter, thinks about what I do as long as it is legal and moral. Of course if you are staying in their home then it would pay to be somewhat more diplomatic.

This is one time I do agree that concealed means concealed as no laws are being broken. That is a decision you need to make for yourself as only you know the dynamics of your family.

[kjolly]

I like sewtexas comment about not scarying old ladies and childern, however if something was to happen these are precisely the people you are protecting.

[Matt78665]

Very good info about gun buster signs being meaningful. TY for the info!!!!!

[boba]

gun buster signs do count

What's the law? I heard signs don't count in Georgia. If they orally tell you you leave, you have to leave or you're trespassing, but that's not limited to guns.

[speedsix]

...one nice thing about Georgia...if you have an active military ID, you can carry without a license...now THERE'S common sense at work!!! The Georgia permit also covers carrying a knife...is good for concealed or open...a lot of small details in the Travelers' Guide...

[CEOofEVIL]

gun buster signs do count

What's the law? I heard signs don't count in Georgia. If they orally tell you you leave, you have to leave or you're trespassing, but that's not limited to guns.

I'm still in the process of researching their laws, however I was able to find this snippet of info on the Georgia Carry website:

Q: What if a business posts a sign stating “No Firearms?”
A: While there is no law against carrying a firearm into a business that posts such a sign, GeorgiaCarry.Org encourages its members to respect the private property owner’s wishes. Why support such a business with your hard-earned money? There are plenty of businesses that support your right to bear arms. They are more deserving of your support.

Should a business owner or his agent ask you to leave while you are carrying a firearm, do so immediately, or as soon as reasonably possible. Failure to leave within a reasonable time, or refusing to leave, is a criminal offense known as “criminal trespass.” In addition, please maintain a polite demeanor so as to project a good image of yourself and other GCO members to the business owner and any witnesses even when asked to leave.

It appears that the above quoted/bolded is the case. The places that are off limits to carry in are pretty similiar to Texas according to SB308, the main differences seem to be Places of Worship and Bars (You can carry in a bar ONLY if the Owner of the establishment allows it). If you are notified to leave the area by the owner you still must comply or face possible criminal trespass charges.

Thanks for your input everyone! I've also learned that we'll be driving down to Florida to make a quick visit, so I've got to check out their laws as well.

[wharvey]

gun buster signs do count

What's the law? I heard signs don't count in Georgia. If they orally tell you you leave, you have to leave or you're trespassing, but that's not limited to guns.

Don't know about Georgia specifics. As I said, never carried there. What I was trying to say is that in the states I've carried any no guns allowed signs are generally enforceable. To my knowledge, Texas is the only state that requires a specific sign with specific wording, size and such. Since I haven't researched I could be very wrong on that point but when in doubt . . .

[texag]

As a Georgian who lives in Texas, with a GA Weapons Carry License, Sign do not really count but you have to leave if asked. Further, open carry is completely allowed, so I would not worry too much about causing a seen short of the family fall out. Notable differences, no government buildings, no courthouse, no church, and no nuke plant, no bar (bar is only a place dedicated to serving alcohol, no 51%). Its pretty easy to carry, and no guns signs do not matter for private business.