Georgia CommonsHB 1127: Crimes; offense of unlawful possession of parts of a machine gun; provide
Introduced version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action February 4, 2026 · Introduced
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
House Bill 1127
By: Representatives Crawford of the 89th, Westbrook of the 163rd, Oliver of the 84th, Holcomb of the 101st, Willis of the 55th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 2 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to possession of dangerous weapons, so as to provide for the offense of unlawful possession of parts of a machine gun; to provide for punishment; to provide for an exemption; to revise and provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 2 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to possession of dangerous weapons, is amended by revising Code Section 16-11-121, relating to definitions, as follows:
"16-11-121.
As used in this part, the term:
(1) 'Dangerous weapon' means any weapon commonly known as a 'rocket launcher,' 'bazooka,' or 'recoilless rifle' which fires explosive or nonexplosive rockets designed to injure or kill personnel or destroy heavy armor, or similar weapon used for such purpose. The Such term shall also mean a weapon commonly known as a 'mortar' which fires high explosive from a metallic cylinder and which is commonly used by the armed forces as an antipersonnel weapon or similar weapon used for such purpose. The term shall also mean a weapon commonly known as a 'hand grenade' or other similar weapon which is designed to explode and injure personnel or similar weapon used for such purpose.
(2) 'Machine gun' means any weapon which shoots or, is designed to shoot, or can be readily converted to shoot, automatically, more than six shots one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.
(3) 'Parts of a machine gun' means:
(A) The frame or receiver of any such weapon;
(B) Any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a pistol into a machine gun; or
(C) Any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person. (4) 'Person' means any individual, partnership, company, association, or corporation. (4)(5) 'Sawed-off rifle' means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder; and designed or redesigned, made or remade, to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire only a single projectile through a rifle bore for each single pull of the trigger; and which has a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length or has an overall length of less than 26 inches. (5)(6) 'Sawed-off shotgun' means a shotgun or any weapon made from a shotgun whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise having one or more barrels less than 18 inches in length or if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches. (6)(7) 'Shotgun' means a weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder; and designed or redesigned, and made or remade, to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed 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. (7)(8) 'Silencer' means any device for silencing or diminishing the report of any portable weapon such as a rifle, carbine, pistol, revolver, machine gun, shotgun, fowling piece, or other device from which a shot, bullet, or projectile may be discharged by an explosive."
SECTION 2.
Said part is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"16-11-123.1.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'possession' means actual or constructive custody or control, including, but not limited to, manufacturing, obtaining, receiving, selling, offering for sale, or using.
(b) No person shall have in his or her possession parts of a machine gun except as provided in Code Section 16-11-124.
(c) A person commits the offense of unlawful possession of parts of a machine gun when he or she knowingly has in his or her possession parts of a machine gun, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than five years."
SECTION 3.
Said part is further amended in Code Section 16-11-124, relating to exemptions from application of part, by adding a new paragraph to read as follows: "(6) A manufacturer licensed and qualified to manufacture and maintain an inventory of machine guns under the Gun Control Act of 1968, 82 Stat. 1213-2 (18 U.S.C. Sections 921-934) and National Firearms Act, 68A Stat. 725 (26 U.S.C. Sections 5841-5862), that is acting pursuant to and in accordance with such provisions."
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.