Good afternoon gentleman,
I am looking to move to one of three states in the south from the crappy state of MD for work. As Im sure you all are well aware of MDs horrible gun laws and almost impossibility to ever be granted a CC permit, I am asking you all for what the "real deal" is with GAs permit process, how difficult do they make it, etc. Ive never been convicted of any crime, no mental issues, and all that good stuff. However if I choose GA, I will be renting initially and how might that affect the permit process?
Georgia is a "Shall Issue" state, unless you are unqualified you must be issued a license after the investigation has been completed.
To get a Georgia Weapons License, you must establish residence (water bill, telephone deposit, gas deposit, etc).
The license is issued by your local Probate Court; you fill out a form that looks a lot like the ATF 4473, raise your hand and swear to gawd it's true, and they take a digital photograph and either cash or a money order (call before going to see what and how much). They will then send you to the local police or Sheriff's office to be fingerprinted. Then you go home.
In a week or 3 you look in your mailbox and there's a letter for you from the Probate Court with your shiny license inside. If you get the GWL in one or two counties you get a
SASE that you gave them with a note that you can go pick up your license.
.
One nice thing about the GWL is that since it's issued by your local county government, it does not reside in any state database, and does not show up on your driver's license or registration. The only way to find out if Mr Public has a GWL is to call the Probate Court. Call between 8:30AM and 5:00PM, Monday through Friday and don't call between 12 and 1 because that's when Ellie-May takes her lunch and watches her tv show. And we have a Hunnert-n-Fiddy-Nine counties. Anyone wanting to know if you have a GWL may get a finger cramp.
The approximate cost is between 70 and 80 depending upon county and it's good for 5 years.
If you decide to make Georgia your new home, be sure to join the forum at
Georgia Packing.Org and consider membership in
Georgia Carry.Org which is working tirelessly to protect and expand the rights of Georgians.