What would you change about the State's Carry Laws?

This is pretty much an extension from a similiar thread over at highroad.org. I though I would post it here for discussion purposes. I think everyone here pretty much agrees that the laws for carrying a weapon in Georgia need vast improvement and so I will start it off with my post from highroad.org and ideas;

I'll chime in for the ol' police state of Georgia.

Georgia laws is anti-gun to the core. Probate judges has discretionary power to issue firearms license and most do not issue within the 60 day time limit, which makes GA a "may issue" even though the law says "shall issue".

The places off-limits to carry exceeds even that of the states that are either no issue or hardly ever issue.

The places off-limits are as follows;

Public Gatherings - which are athletic or sporting events, churches or church function, political rallies or functions, publicly owned or operated buildings, and establishments were alcoholic beverages are sold for cosumption on the premises. - oh and the definition of a "public gathering" is not limited to those 5 areas. The courts have rule that any event or function that the public gathers or will gather for is a public gathering too and thus off limits. Gotta love the ambiguity there!

Oh wait there is more!

Any type of public transportation and/or transportation depots, terminals, bus stops, and airports. This even inlcudes an "area in close proximity to.." the public transportation depot/terminal/stop. It gets worse - it is a felony offense if you're caught carrying a weapon in these places. If it is a private company providing public transportation or "charters" then you must have written permission from the private company to board the bus, rail vehicle, or aircraft they own with your weapon.

Still more...

Wildlife management areas. No loaded weapons allowed in vehicles even if you're just passing through on the road that just happens to cross into a WMA. During hunting seasons you can posses a loaded weapon outside your vechicle on the WMA, but it has to a weapon that is allowed to hunt for whatever particular game is in season. The silver comet trail goes through the Paulding Forest WMA, A perfect place for predators to find un-armed victims.

State Parks are off-limits. Firearms must be unloaded. Criminals trespass charge if caught carrying.

The State Capitol is off-limits, but it is also covered under the public gathering law as well.

School property and school zones are quasi carry if you have a license, but only while picking up or dropping off a student or just passing through the zone.

Within the guard lines of jails or prisons is off limits to weapons as well. In some jails this area also includes the visitor parking area - a place where no inmate will ever be or have access too. A felony offense for just having it in your car if the parking area is within the guard line.

And lastly Stone Mountain Park, which is publicly funded, but privately owned and operated, has the power to create ordinances that prohibit the possession of firearms anywhere on park property, clearly in violation of the states pre-emption law. But otherwise law-abiding folk get carted off to the clink nonetheless for Stone Mountain's illegal law.

The things I would like see changed in GA is;

The places off-limits narrowed down to just "secured areas" of public buildings and transportation terminals. Keep the guard line law for jails and prisons, but the guard line has to be established to where inmates commonly are and will be and not in areas were there will not be any(parking lots).

Change the Georgia Firearms License to a Gerogia Concealed Weapon and Firearms License. Openly carrying of non-pistol type weapons is ok without a permit. It makes no sense that one has a license to carry openly or concealed a firearm, but prohibited from carrying a concealed knife, bludgeon, ect while licesned to carry a firearm as well.

And Lastly,

Take the issuance of firearms licenses away from probate judges and give it to another department of government that is more competent with the laws of the state and will adhere to "shall issue"

There, I am off the bitchbox for now

Georgia Packing dot ORG - Fighting the good fight!