NOTE: This information is not provided as legal advice. Always consult a lawyer and seek legal guidance.
2010 Georgia Code
TITLE 16 – CRIMES AND OFFENSES
CHAPTER 11 – OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY
ARTICLE 4 – DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTALITIES AND PRACTICES
PART 3 – CARRYING AND POSSESSION OF FIREARMS
§ 16-11-127.1 – Carrying weapons within school safety zones, at school functions, or on school property
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) “School safety zone” means in or on any real property owned by or leased to any public or private elementary school, secondary school, or school board and used for elementary or secondary education and in or on the campus of any public or private technical school, vocational school, college, university, or institution of postsecondary education.
(2) “Weapon” means and includes any pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind, or any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, any other knife having a blade of two or more inches, straight-edge razor, razor blade, spring stick, knuckles, whether made from metal, thermoplastic, wood, or other similar material, blackjack, any bat, club, or other bludgeon-type weapon, or any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain, or any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart, or any weapon of like kind, and any stun gun or taser as defined in subsection (a) of Code Section 16-11-106. This paragraph excludes any of these instruments used for classroom work authorized by the teacher.
(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, it shall be unlawful for any person to carry to or to possess or have under such person’s control while within a school safety zone or at a school building, school function, or school property or on a bus or other transportation furnished by the school any weapon or explosive compound, other than fireworks the possession of which is regulated by Chapter 10 of Title 25.
(2) Any license holder who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who is not a license holder who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.00, by imprisonment for not less than two nor more than ten years, or both.
(3) Any person convicted of a violation of this subsection involving a dangerous weapon or machine gun, as such terms are defined in Code Section 16-11-121, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.00 or by imprisonment for a period of not less than five nor more than ten years, or both.
(4) A child who violates this subsection may be subject to the provisions of Code Section 15-11-63.
Summary:
It is unlawful to carry or possess weapons (which also include blackjack, bat, club or other related weapon) within a school safety zone, a school building, at a school function, school property, or a school bus or any other type of transportation provided for by the school.
A person licensed to carry or possess weapons who violates this law shall be guilty of misdemeanor, while an unlicensed person who commits the same offense shall be guilty of felony. A child who commits violations of this law is subject to the provisions of 15-11-63 (under Georgia’s juvenile code).