Probably moving back to Georgia

[buschwhaked]

So I've been living in Colorado while in the military for the last 4 years, minus deployment of course. Anyway, I own a handgun that I purchased out here and I was wondering if you guys could give the low down on what I need to do in order to be legal in Georgia once I move back. Colorado rocks, no registration required and you only need a license to conceal carry, but I'm sure Georgia is different.

Oh, and where are some good places to wheel in N. Georgia? Not looking for anything crazy, just some forest roads to go exploring. How friendly is north Georgia to OHV usage? Any recommendations?

In case it matters I'll be moving to the Decatur area just outside Atlanta.

Thanks for the help!

[The Hard Struggler]

Howdy! Georgia has a "Georgia Firearms License". It does take a while to get, but with it you can carry open or concealed. All the info you need is at www.GeorgiaPacking.org (http://www.GeorgiaPacking.org)

[BruceB83]

The license costs around $40 once you've paid the county and the state/fed fees. In Gwinnett where I live, you have to go to two different facilities, one to file paperwork and another to do fingerprinting for Federal checks.

If you aren't looking for "anything crazy" there are a decent amount of what I call wild trails in north GA. We find them all the time when we are up there trout fisihing. You may take a forest service road to the top of a mountain where it dead ends and then find a trail continuing from there. Some of them are pretty easy and I've been on some that if I wasn't in a vehicle with a locker, we may have not made it back. If you like exploring you can stay busy for a while. I'm sure it's nothing like Colorado but we have a good time. Now there are quite a few off-road parks or OHV areas within about 2-3 hours of Atlanta so we have a good selection.

[buschwhaked]

The license costs around $40 once you've paid the county and the state/fed fees. In Gwinnett where I live, you have to go to two different facilities, one to file paperwork and another to do fingerprinting for Federal checks.

If you aren't looking for "anything crazy" there are a decent amount of what I call wild trails in north GA. We find them all the time when we are up there trout fisihing. You may take a forest service road to the top of a mountain where it dead ends and then find a trail continuing from there. Some of them are pretty easy and I've been on some that if I wasn't in a vehicle with a locker, we may have not made it back. If you like exploring you can stay busy for a while. I'm sure it's nothing like Colorado but we have a good time. Now there are quite a few off-road parks or OHV areas within about 2-3 hours of Atlanta so we have a good selection.

So speaking of trout fishing, what are some good rivers to fly fish in for trout? I love to fly fish, anytime of the year.

I spent my first 21 years in Atlanta and was going to Georgia State before I enlisted. I'm really struggling with accepting the fact that I'm moving. My head says it's a smart move to come back but heart really wants to stay out here in CO. My biggest obstacle is Atlanta itself. I remember coming home over leave from Iraq and seeing this thug dude wearing a faux flak vest and diamond studded dog tags in Lennox mall and wanted to drop this "hard" looking motherf'er right there. Usually I don't let asshats get under my skin, but for some reason it really bothered me. But my wife's family is in Atlanta and she really misses Georgia. And having attended GSU I don't have to worry about credit transfers or anything like that. And the job market is better. So it just makes sense, but it doesn't make it easy.

Anyway, thanks for the help and being so welcoming. Hopefully we can meet up in January when I get there and do some wheeling/fishing.

[BruceB83]

So speaking of trout fishing, what are some good rivers to fly fish in for trout? I love to fly fish, anytime of the year.

I spent my first 21 years in Atlanta and was going to Georgia State before I enlisted. I'm really struggling with accepting the fact that I'm moving. My head says it's a smart move to come back but heart really wants to stay out here in CO. My biggest obstacle is Atlanta itself. I remember coming home over leave from Iraq and seeing this thug dude wearing a faux flak vest and diamond studded dog tags in Lennox mall and wanted to drop this "hard" looking motherf'er right there. Usually I don't let asshats get under my skin, but for some reason it really bothered me. But my wife's family is in Atlanta and she really misses Georgia. And having attended GSU I don't have to worry about credit transfers or anything like that. And the job market is better. So it just makes sense, but it doesn't make it easy.

Anyway, thanks for the help and being so welcoming. Hopefully we can meet up in January when I get there and do some wheeling/fishing.

Cool, I graduated from GSU about 3 years ago (should have been about 4-5 years ago but that's another story). Yeah, there are alot of asshats in Atlanta, especially on the highways!

I'm always down for a wheeling/fishing/exploring combo trip. Although you may find our styles of trout fishing are a little different. I don't fly fish...I use an ultra-light spinner and walk in the river in my bathing suit and my "amphibious" shoes from REI! The rivers (streams) I fish are usually too small for fly and I'd spend more time in the trees than the water.

[postalxj]

Man you need to stay in COLORADO!!!!!!!!!!!!

I moved to Colorado and then moved back to the south and DAM I Wish i would haved stayed in Colorado there is so much to do out there and not as hot there!!!! Man if i had to do it all over i would have stayed and if i didn't buy a house here i would be back in COLORADO!!!!!!!!!!!

[iBarsky]

[quote=buschwhaked]So I've been living in Colorado while in the military for the last 4 years, minus deployment of course. Anyway, I own a handgun that I purchased out here and I was wondering if you guys could give the low down on what I need to do in order to be legal in Georgia once I move back. Colorado rocks, no registration required and you only need a license to conceal carry, but I'm sure Georgia is different.
uote]


Like the others said, its not much of a hassle to get a GFL. Go to your county's probate judge's office and take a money order. They will do the paperwork and send you to the sheriff's office where your fingerprints will be taken. Most countys now have the LiveScan machines so that your prints are immediately sent to the GBI/FBI. Some have gotten their GFLs in as little as 1 day. Some counties are still trying to drag ass about the process, but as of 7/1/08 there is a limit (as in new state law) as to how long they can take.
The link HardStruggler posted is the doorway to all you will ever need to know about Georgia's firearms laws.

As they said above, a GFl gives you the ability to carry openly or concealed. There is no limit to the number of handguns you can carry on you at any time and you can carry a different weapon every day if you like. There is no registration and we share reciprity with quite a few other states.
Also check out http://www.georgiacarry.org/ (http://www.georgiacarry.org/)

For $16 a year you can become part of the best pro-gun, pro-carry group in the nation.
This year GCO pushed through the new law that allows us to carry in State Parks, WMAs, on public transportation and in restaurants that serve alcohol.
For the upcoming year GCO is setting it's sights on passing legislation that will make Georgia's carry laws some of the best in the country.

[rockpile317]

So speaking of trout fishing, what are some good rivers to fly fish in for trout? I love to fly fish, anytime of the year.

I spent my first 21 years in Atlanta and was going to Georgia State before I enlisted. I'm really struggling with accepting the fact that I'm moving. My head says it's a smart move to come back but heart really wants to stay out here in CO. My biggest obstacle is Atlanta itself. I remember coming home over leave from Iraq and seeing this thug dude wearing a faux flak vest and diamond studded dog tags in Lennox mall and wanted to drop this "hard" looking motherf'er right there. Usually I don't let asshats get under my skin, but for some reason it really bothered me. But my wife's family is in Atlanta and she really misses Georgia. And having attended GSU I don't have to worry about credit transfers or anything like that. And the job market is better. So it just makes sense, but it doesn't make it easy.

Anyway, thanks for the help and being so welcoming. Hopefully we can meet up in January when I get there and do some wheeling/fishing.

I fly fish a lot but have found that the fly fishing community and 4 wheelers dont exactly get along down here due to Tellico, but I still fish a lot so if you want to go hit me up I pulled a 27" brown from the Chattahoochee in Metro ATL last Febuary. There are a lot of great streams down here you just have to get away from all the people.

[buschwhaked]

I fly fish a lot but have found that the fly fishing community and 4 wheelers dont exactly get along down here due to Tellico, but I still fish a lot so if you want to go hit me up I pulled a 27" brown from the Chattahoochee in Metro ATL last Febuary. There are a lot of great streams down here you just have to get away from all the people.
Sweet catch! The biggest I've brought in was a 22" rainbow, but I did pull in 18 in 12 hours that day :D

[buschwhaked]

[quote]


Like the others said, its not much of a hassle to get a GFL. Go to your county's probate judge's office and take a money order. They will do the paperwork and send you to the sheriff's office where your fingerprints will be taken. Most countys now have the LiveScan machines so that your prints are immediately sent to the GBI/FBI. Some have gotten their GFLs in as little as 1 day. Some counties are still trying to drag ass about the process, but as of 7/1/08 there is a limit (as in new state law) as to how long they can take.
The link HardStruggler posted is the doorway to all you will ever need to know about Georgia's firearms laws.

As they said above, a GFl gives you the ability to carry openly or concealed. There is no limit to the number of handguns you can carry on you at any time and you can carry a different weapon every day if you like. There is no registration and we share reciprity with quite a few other states.
Also check out http://www.georgiacarry.org/ (http://www.georgiacarry.org/)

For $16 a year you can become part of the best pro-gun, pro-carry group in the nation.
This year GCO pushed through the new law that allows us to carry in State Parks, WMAs, on public transportation and in restaurants that serve alcohol.
For the upcoming year GCO is setting it's sights on passing legislation that will make Georgia's carry laws some of the best in the country.

What about carrying at University's? I've heard some rumbling about changing the laws concerning that. Is that true in GA? I'm going back to GSU and taking night classes probably and downtown isn't the safest place a 11pm. Just curious.

[The Hard Struggler]

My GFL took 6 months to get! I've heard of others that only took a couple of weeks. After asking around it turns out that requests from DeKalb or Fulton county (metropolitian Atlanta area) go through a whole extra level of federal approval. Government efficiency....

[iBarsky]

Right now colleges are a no-go.
Along with publicly owned buildings and churches, colleges are a major target for the upcoming legislative session. The Board of Regents are throwing up some B.S. that even if the state law changes they don't have to allow carry (can you say state funding go bye-bye). GeorgiaCarry has some of the finest attorneys in the state and as you'll see if you check out the site, they don't lose often.
Georgia preempts firearms laws so that no individual county or city, etc can restrict carry. Several cities and counties have learned this the hard ($$$$$$) way and even after losing every case it tries, the city of Atlanta continues to throw it's budget away on lawsuits it can't win.............while laying off Police and Firefighters.

[iBarsky]

My GFL took 6 months to get! I've heard of others that only took a couple of weeks. After asking around it turns out that requests from DeKalb or Fulton county (metropolitian Atlanta area) go through a whole extra level of federal approval. Government efficiency....

Someone's feeding you a load of B.S. And it's probably the Probate offices. Every one who applies for a GFL gets the same background check, no matter what county they live in. Some of the larger, more metropolitan counties are giving applicants trouble about the wait times,even though they are now violating Ga law. If I'm not mistaken there is a Probate Judge somewhere who is being sued because of this and the fact that her office is still trying to require a SSN for the GFL aplication, which the state has said is not necessary and is in fact illegal.
Depending on where you apply they may still ask for your SSN, but they must process the application and transmit the finger prints without you giving it to them.

Here is an up to date list of the wait times people are experiencing in some Ga counties

Below is a listing of the most recent reliable report for each county. .



Barrow - 6 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11908&highlight=)
Bartow - 10 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13173)
Carroll - 8 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=165992#165992)
Chatooga - 4 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11752)
Cherokee - 57 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11875&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0)
Clarke - 13 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11545)
Clayton - 62 days Page 1
Crisp - 16 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8532)
Cobb - 39 days page 5 (speeding up)
Columbia - 22 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11221)
Coweta - 13 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10075)
DeKalb - 31 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11114&highlight=)
Douglas - 9 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10746)
Forsyth - 5 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9432&highlight=)
Fulton - 43 days Page 2 (it's getting longer! Previous report was 35 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10039))
Gilmer - 19 days Page 2
Gwinnett - 26 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11413&highlight=)
Henry - 22 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10901)
Houston - 3 days Page 3
Jackson - 8 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=160601#160601)
Jasper - 2 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10829)
Liberty - 101 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13236&highlight=)
Pickens - 1 day Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10943&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=)
Pike - 6 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11271&highlight=)
Walton - 75 days Link (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10992&highlight=)
Whitfield - 14 days Link to Probate (http://www.georgiapacking.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=164659#164659)

[buschwhaked]

So a CCP only costs $45 and there are no mandatory classes you have to go through in order to get it? Actually sounds a little bit better...

[iBarsky]

GeorgiaCarry has also filed a lawsuit against all of the Probate Judges in the state for a member who lives in another state because Georgia at this time does not issue GFLs to non-residents as many states do.
They are in effect trying to have the 2nd Amendment applied to the state, which is something that has yet to be done.

[iBarsky]

So a CCP only costs $45 and there are no mandatory classes you have to go through in order to get it? Actually sounds a little bit better...

Yes, in the $40-$45 range depending on the county you reside. No training is required . Take them a money order, fill out the application at the Probate Offices, go to the sheriff's office and get digitally printed. I've read that some counties require you make an appointment for the 'printing, but most are just walking in and waiting for an opening. Most smaller counties don't have this issue.
When the background check comes back and the Probate Judge signs your GFL (Georgia Firearms Permit) you pay the county its fee and off you go.

[The Hard Struggler]

Thanks for the info there Barsky. I asked a DeKalb Co. police officer about the time my GFL took, and its likey that he was told wrong or made it up.

I applied in Jan 07, received my licence in late Jun 07.

[iBarsky]

There's a lot of misinformation about Ga's laws when it comes to carrying, etc. Until I got turned on to GeorgiaPacking and GeorgiaCarry all I knew was what my Probate Judge told me. Luckily for me he is very pro-gun.

When I got my GFL four+ years ago it took about 60 days. A friend got her's two weeks ago and it took 2 days.

[rockpile317]

It doesn't take that long for the GFL to come back, but it sits on the judges desk for months waiting to be signed. Mine took a month

[BruceB83]

It took about 5 weeks to get mine back 4 years ago in Gwinnett.

Sweet catch! The biggest I've brought in was a 22" rainbow, but I did pull in 18 in 12 hours that day :D

Nice, I haven't caught anything that big but when we go, we catch them all day. If I don't reel in at least 10 on a 5 hour trip, it's dissappointing. And that 5 hours includes stream hopping...not all spent in the the water.

[XJ16FW]

You don't have to have a carry permit in GA, unless you actually intend to carry. You can keep it in your house, or car, but it has to be unloaded in the car. FWIW, it only took a couple of weeks to get my permit in Decatur.

As for places to wheel, Tellico is just over the NC border. It is pretty tame now. They have practically "paved" all the trails. From your first post, I suspect you will like it fine. There is a "sticky" thread about places to wheel in the SE.

[iBarsky]

You don't have to have a carry permit in GA, unless you actually intend to carry. You can keep it in your house, or car, but it has to be unloaded in the car. FWIW, it only took a couple of weeks to get my permit in Decatur.
.

Like I said, there's a lot of misinformation going around. No, you don't have to have GFL to carry n your car, your home or a private business where you have permission from the owner to carry. As far as car carry, it does not have to be unloaded and you can keep it anywhere in the car, fully loaded, just as someone with a GFL could.

Let me clarify the above: You can keep a loaded handgun in your vehicle as long as you are not ineligible for a GFL.

[buschwhaked]

Either way, the gun laws are a lot more lax than I thought they would be. Thanks for the direction on this. Good ol' southern hospitality.