Definitions

As used in this part, the term: (1) ‘‘Handgun’’ means a firearm of any description, loaded or unloaded, from which any shot, bullet, or other missile can be discharged by an action of an explosive where the length of the barrel, not including any revolving, detachable, or magazine breech, does not exceed 12 inches; provided, however, that the term ‘‘handgun’’ shall not include a gun which discharges a single shot of 0.46 centimeter or less in diameter. (2) ‘‘Knife’’ means a cutting instrument designed for the purpose of offense and defense consisting of a blade that is greater than 12 inches in length which is fastened to a handle. (3) ‘‘License holder’’ means a person who holds a valid weapons carry license. (4) ‘‘Long gun’’ means a firearm with a barrel length of at least 18 inches and overall length of at least 26 inches designed or made and intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or made to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed: (A) Shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger or from which any shot, bullet, or other missile can be discharged; or (B) Metallic cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifle bore for each single pull of the trigger; provided, however, that the term ‘‘long gun’’ shall not include a gun which discharges a single shot of 0.46 centimeter or less in diameter. (5) ‘‘Weapon’’ means a knife or handgun. (6) ‘‘Weapons carry license’’ or ‘‘license’’ means a license issued pursuant to Code Section 16-11-129. (Code 1981, § 16-11-125.1, enacted by Ga. L. 2010, p. 963, § 1-1/SB 308; Ga. L. 2017, p. 555, § 3/HB 292; Ga. L. 2018, p. 1112, § 16/SB 365.) The 2017 amendment, effective May 8, 2017, substituted ‘‘12 inches’’ for ‘‘five inches’’ in paragraph (2). The 2018 amendment, effective May 8, 2018, part of an Act to revise, modernize, and correct the Code, substituted ‘‘0.46 centimeter or less’’ for ‘‘.46 centime- ters or less’’ near the end of paragraph (1) and in the undesignated language at the end of subparagraph (4)(B). Editor’s notes. — Ga. L. 2010, p. 963, § 3-1/SB 308, not codified by the General Assembly, provides, in part, that this Code section shall apply to all offenses commit- 931 16-11-125.1 CRIMES AND OFFENSES ted on and after June 4, 2010, and shall not affect any prosecutions for acts occurring before June 4, 2010, and shall not act as an abatement of any such prosecution. Ga. L. 2017, p. 555, § 1/HB 292, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: ‘‘The General Assembly finds that: ‘‘(1) The ownership of firearms is a clear and explicit right protected by the United States Constitution and the Constitution of this state; ‘‘(2) Access to financial services provides for the functioning of a firearms industry 16-11-126 and, thus, the constitutionally protected right of firearm ownership; and ‘‘(3) The provisions of this Act are intended to implement the constitutional protections provided for under the law.’’