Carrying from Virginia to Georgia?

J

JayDubyaGee

New member
I'm having some trouble with the packing.org web site so I thought I'd ask the forum. I'm taking a road trip from Northern Virginia to Atlanta and I am wondering if it is possible/practical to carry a handgun on the way.

I have a VA CCW, and my understanding is that VA has a reciprocal with North Carolina, but I not with Georgia and South Carolina. What are the rules for transporting and carrying in those two states. Any chance they have open carry rules like VA?
 
JWG,
I have the same problem, heading down to Atlanta.
IIRC, in Georgia you can carry a gun in the car in plain sight, in the panel between seats, or in the glove compartment without a license. I don't recall if you can carry openly or not.. I think not.
South Carolina you can carry in the glove compartment/console.

I will check on packing.org and the VCDL website to check on those if you'd like.
 
Howdy!

Georgia resident from '77 to '00, here.

Last I checked, you don't need a permit to transport a loaded pistol in your automobile, as long as it's in plain view (lying on the seat, dashboard, or package shelf) or in the glovebox or console compartment. No tucking it between the seat cushions, putting it under the seat, or stuffing it in a map pocket....
 
What a nice thing to say Dan! I do note that Alabama does not recognize a Virginia CWP either.

Apple a day is correct on the glove box, console transport for handguns in SC. Handgun can be fully loaded, no issues. Watch your speed on the interstates. :)
 
CCW reciprocity

Florida has agreements with 28 states for mutual recognition of each others ccw. Both Georgia and Virginia are included. The Florida licensing Authority does state the following:
"Please remember that state gun laws vary considerably and that while you are traveling with your firearm in or through another state you are subject to that states laws. It is incumbent upon you as the license holder to familiarize yourself with whatever restrictions apply when not in Florida."

Have a nice trip.
 
Maybe I should have gone to law school, I might understand this passage. This paragraph in
GA 16-11-126 seems to imply there may be some reciprocity, though packing.org and the NRA link says there isn't.


(e) On and after October 1, 1996, a person licensed to carry a handgun in any state whose laws recognize and give effect within such state to a license issued pursuant to this part shall be authorized to carry a handgun in this state, but only while the licensee is not a resident of this state; provided, however, that such licenseholder shall carry the handgun in compliance with the laws of this state.​

On the other hand, if I went to law school I might have wound up talking like this :)
 
GA Deputy Sheriff here…

GA also subscribes to the “Peaceable Journey Law” which allows you to transport any firearm, which you can legally own thru our great state w/o any consequences as long as you abide by some basic rules.

Carry it in an open manner, fully exposed to view.

Or in a glove box or compartment, any type of “console” or similar compartment which is part of the vehicle.

The law is OCGA 16-11-126(d)

Peaceable journey law summary:
 
Thanks for the feedback JSandi. If I can ask two more questions;

It appears OCGA 16-11-126(d) "open carry" applies only to the automobile. Is that correct, or are there other open carry provisions elsewhere in the law?

Are there any special rules I must obey when transporting the gun from my car to my hotel room?
 
There is no “open carry provisions” in GA unless you are engaged in hunting, fishing or a sporting event, which allows or calls for the use of a firearm. (I don’t think you can carry a handgun while fishing on a wild life refuge IIRC)

The carry openly wording in the law means (or at least to most LEO’s here) that it must be in plain view from a vantage point outside the car, a good rule of thumb would be visible to a LEO when he walks up to the car on a traffic stop and an example I use is, if the back seat of your car is unoccupied just lay it on the back seat in open view where he/she can see it when the approach, tell them the gun is there and just act normal.

That way if you need it, it is accessible to you but you have tried in good faith to follow the law as best as you can.

People will read it differently, but if you did find a cop who wanted to push the issue, you would be able to stand before a judge and honestly say you tried to follow the letter of the law and in good faith, which is all the courts here are interested in, not strict interpretation of laws such as carriage of a gun in a car by someone from another state who can lawfully own and carry the same gun in their home state.

When taking the gun from a car to a hotel room the only thing I would worry about is one of the sheep seeing you and dialing 911 so just make an effort to hide it during those few moments and no one will be the wiser.
 
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