The following is a video transcript.

Let’s revisit some of the most basic rules on firearms carry in Georgia, paying special attention to the rules on long guns:

DEFINING TYPES OF LONG GUNS

In the State of Georgia, a firearm is defined by statute as, “any handgun, rifle, or shotgun.” Rifles and shotguns are generally grouped into the category of “long gun,” described as, “a firearm with an overall length of at least 26 inches, designed or made and intended to be fired from the shoulder.” Shotguns and rifles are differentiated by ammunition. Shotguns fire ball shot or a single projectile (meaning slug) through a smooth bore, while rifles use a metallic cartridge to fire a single projectile through a rifle bore. Each type of long gun fires one projectile for each single pull of the trigger.

CARRYING LONG GUNS

Long guns may be carried without a valid Weapons Carry License. So long as an individual is not prohibited from possessing firearms, he or she may carry the firearm in any authorized location without a Weapons Carry License. The long gun may be carried either openly or concealed, so long as it is unloaded (meaning no round in the chamber). If the firearm is loaded, it must be carried openly and in a “fully exposed manner,” but it can still be carried without a license. The minimum age to purchase a long gun in Georgia is 18. However, there is no minimum age to possess a long gun.

For more information about carrying a long gun in Georgia, call U.S. LawShield and ask to speak to your Independent Program Attorney.