A bill that would expand reciprocity to 20 other states for Georgia gun owners, sportsmen and hunters holding a weapons carry license could get its first hearing as early as Monday, according to bill sponsor Representative Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton).
House Bill 787 was filed last week and is being co-sponsored by Representatives Alan Powell (R-Hartwell), Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper), Micah Gravley (R-Douglasville) and others. If approved, the bill would direct the Georgia Attorney General to enter into formal reciprocity agreements with any of the 20 other states that require a formal agreement to recognize a Georgia Weapons Carry License.
The bill would also grant universal reciprocity to concealed carry permits held by residents of these same states. Some of the states with universal reciprocity include Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Mississippi and Tennessee. Permit holders will be required to abide by the state requirements and regulations.
Georgia currently has specific reciprocity but this bill would the agreement with more states.
“In Georgia, we recognize that our carry permit holders are good, law-abiding citizens who have been through full background checks,” Ballinger told IAG. “This bill would allow our residents who are carry permit holders to go into other states and allow residents of those states to come into Georgia as long as they are compliant with the state’s laws and regulations.”
Under provisions of the bill, Georgia’s Attorney General would create and maintain a list of states whose laws recognize and are participants of the universal reciprocity on the Department of Law’s website.
