Bill Text: GA HB286 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Licenses; handgun safety course; provide

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-02-05 - House Second Readers [HB286 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-HB286-Introduced.html

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09 LC 21 0065

House Bill 286

By: Representative Marin of the 96th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Code Section 16-11-129 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license to carry a pistol or revolver and temporary renewal permit, so as to provide that persons applying for such a license shall complete a handgun safety course; to provide that the Department of Public Safety shall promulgate regulations establishing criteria for such courses; to provide that the department shall approve persons to conduct such training; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Code Section 16-11-129 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license to carry a pistol or revolver and temporary renewal permit, is amended by revising subsection (a) as follows:

"(a) Application for license or renewal license; term. The judge of the probate court of each county may, on application under oath and on payment of a fee of $15.00, issue a license or renewal license valid for a period of five years to any person whose domicile is in that county or who is on active duty with the United States armed forces and who is not a domiciliary of this state but who either resides in that county or on a military reservation located in whole or in part in that county at the time of such application, which license or renewal license shall authorize that person to carry any pistol or revolver in any county of this state notwithstanding any change in that person´s county of residence or state of domicile. Applicants shall submit the application for a license or renewal license to the judge of the probate court on forms prescribed and furnished free of charge to persons wishing to apply for the license or renewal license. Applicants shall provide a recent passport sized photograph and proof of successful completion of a handgun safety course approved by the Department of Public Safety within three years of the application. An applicant who is not a United States citizen shall provide sufficient personal identifying data, including without limitation his or her place of birth and United States issued alien

or admission number, as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation may prescribe by rule or regulation. An applicant who is in nonimmigrant status shall provide proof of his or her qualifications for an exception to the federal firearm prohibition pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 922(y). Forms shall be designed to elicit information from the applicant pertinent to his or her eligibility under this Code section, including citizenship, but shall not require data which is nonpertinent or irrelevant such as serial numbers or other identification capable of being used as a de facto registration of firearms owned by the applicant. The Department of Public Safety shall furnish application forms and license forms required by this Code section. The forms shall be furnished to each judge of each probate court within the state at no cost."

SECTION 2.

Said Code section is further amended by adding a new subsection to read as follows:

"(d.1)(1) Handgun safety course. The Department of Public Safety shall promulgate regulations containing general guidelines for a basic handgun safety course, which shall entail at least eight hours of instruction and shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(A) Information on the statutory and case law of this state relating to handguns and to the use of deadly force;

(B) Information on handgun use and safety;

(C) Information on the proper storage practice for handguns with an emphasis on storage practices that reduces the possibility of accidental injury to a child; and

(D) The actual firing of the handgun in the presence of the instructor.

(2) The department shall promulgate regulations establishing criteria for approval as a handgun safety instructor. Any state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, nationally recognized organization that promotes gun safety, or operator of a private shooting range may apply to the department for authorization to conduct an approved handgun safety course. The department shall approve such organizations if it is satisfied that the instructors and facilities meet or exceed the guidelines and qualifications contained in the regulations promulgated by the department. Any person or organization which is approved to provide a basic handgun safety course shall be authorized to charge a reasonable fee for such instruction."

SECTION 3.

This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2010.

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.