State Gun Laws

Georgia law says that if a person has been convicted of any of the following crimes, s/he cannot have or buy a gun:

• has been convicted of a felony in any state or in another country; currently has felony charges pending against him/her (but hasn’t yet been convicted) or is a fugitive from justice;
• has been convicted of an offense arising out of the unlawful manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance or other dangerous drug;
• has been convicted of any misdemeanor involving the use or possession of a drugs (controlled substance) and within the past five years s/he also:
  • has been in restraint or under supervision;
  • gets a second conviction of any misdemeanor involving the use or possession of a controlled substance; or
  • is convicted for various weapons charges;
• has been convicted of carrying a weapon or long gun in an unauthorized location and within the past five years has been under restraint or supervision related to these crimes or has gotten any other conviction; or
• has been found by a judge (adjudicated) to be “mentally incompetent to stand trial” or “not guilty by reason of insanity” at the time that s/he committed a crime.¹

Federal laws, which apply to all states, also restrict a person’s right to have a gun if s/he has been convicted of certain crimes.  Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

¹ GA ST § 16-11-129(b)(2)