---
title: HB 452. Firearms; persons convicted of family violence offenses cannot possess or purchase; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb452
cite_as: HB 452, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb452
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb452.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb452/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70324
date: 2025-02-19
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb451.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb453.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb452.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 452
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-13
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
- Shea Roberts
- Karen Lupton
- Lisa Campbell
- Anne Westbrook
- Bryce Berry
- Tangie Herring
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB452/2025
upstream_id: 1970338
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- gun control
- family violence
- domestic violence protective orders
- firearm possession laws
- criminal penalties
---
# HB 452. Firearms; persons convicted of family violence offenses cannot possess or purchase; provide
## Text
House Bill 452
By: Representatives Roberts of the 52nd, Lupton of the 83rd, Campbell of the 35th, Westbrook
of the 163rd, Berry of the 56th, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to carrying and possession of firearms, so as to provide that persons
convicted of family violence offenses or subject to family violence temporary protective
orders cannot receive, possess, transport, purchase, or transfer firearms; to provide for
definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability;
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to carrying and possession of firearms, is amended by revising Code
Section 16-11-131, relating to possession of firearms by convicted felons and first offender
probationers, as follows:
"16-11-131.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) 'Antique firearm' means:
(A) A firearm, including, but not limited to, a firearm with a matchlock, flintlock,
percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system, manufactured in or before 1898;
(B) Any replica of a firearm described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph if such
replica:
(i) Is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed
ammunition; or
(ii) Uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer
manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary
channels of commercial trade; or
(C) Any muzzle-loading rifle, muzzle-loading shotgun, or muzzle-loading pistol, which
is designed to use black powder or a black powder substitute, and which cannot use
fixed ammunition. Such term shall not include a firearm which incorporates a firearm
frame or receiver, a firearm which is converted into a muzzle-loading weapon, or a
muzzle-loading firearm which can be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition by
replacing the barrel, bolt, breechblock, or any combination thereof.
(2) 'Family violence offense' shall include the offenses listed in paragraph (2) of Code
Section 19-13-1 when committed against past or present spouses, persons who are parents
of the same child, parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, foster parents and
foster children, or other persons living or formerly living in the same household.
(3) 'Family violence protective order' means an order:
(A) Issued pursuant to either Code Section 19-13-3 or 19-13-4;
(B) Which was issued after a hearing in which the responding party received actual
notice and had an opportunity to participate;
(C) Which restrains the responding party from harassing, stalking, or threatening the
petitioning party; and
(D) Includes a finding that the responding party presents a credible threat to the
physical safety of the petitioning party or by its terms explicitly prohibits the use,
attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the petitioning party that
would be reasonably expected to cause bodily injury.
(1)(4) 'Felony' means any offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of one year or
more and includes conviction by a court-martial under the Uniform Code of Military
Justice for an offense which would constitute a felony under the laws of the United
States.
(2)(5) 'Firearm' includes any handgun, rifle, shotgun, or other weapon which will or can
be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or electrical charge. Such
term shall not include an antique firearm.
(6) 'Forcible felony' means any felony which involves the use or threat of physical force
or violence against any person and further includes, without limitation, murder; murder
in the second degree; burglary in any degree; robbery; armed robbery; home invasion in
any degree; kidnapping; hijacking of an aircraft or hijacking a motor vehicle in the first
degree; aggravated stalking; rape; aggravated child molestation; aggravated sexual
battery; arson in the first degree; the manufacturing, transporting, distribution, or
possession of explosives with intent to kill, injure, or intimidate individuals or destroy a
public building; terroristic threats; or acts of treason or insurrection.
(b) Any person who is on probation as a felony first offender pursuant to Article 3 of
Chapter 8 of Title 42, who is on probation and was sentenced for a felony under
subsection (a) or (c) of Code Section 16-13-2, or who has been convicted of a felony by a
court of this state or any other state; by a court of the United States including its territories,
possessions, and dominions; or by a court of any foreign nation and who receives,
possesses, or transports a firearm commits a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
imprisoned for not less than one year nor more than ten years; provided, however, that
upon a second or subsequent conviction, such person shall be imprisoned for not less than
five nor more than ten years; provided, further, that if the felony for which the person is on
probation or has been previously convicted is a forcible felony, then upon conviction of
receiving, possessing, or transporting a firearm, such person shall be imprisoned for a
period of five years.
(b.1) Any person who is prohibited by this Code section from possessing a firearm because
of conviction of a forcible felony or because of being on probation as a first offender or
under conditional discharge for a forcible felony and who attempts to purchase or obtain
transfer of a firearm shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by
imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years; provided, however, that
upon a second or subsequent conviction, such person shall be punished by imprisonment
for not less than five nor more than ten years.
(b.2) Any person who is on probation as a first offender pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 8
of Title 42 for a family violence offense or who has been convicted of a family violence
offense by a court of this state or any other state; by a court of the United States including
its territories, possessions, and dominions; or by a court of any foreign nation and who
receives, possesses, or transports a firearm or attempts to purchase or obtain transfer of a
firearm commits a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned for not less
than one year nor more than five years; provided, however, that, if the family violence
offense as to which the person is on probation or has been previously convicted is a
forcible felony, then upon conviction of receiving, possessing, transporting, or attempting
to purchase or obtain transfer of a firearm, such person shall be imprisoned for a period of
five years.
(b.3) Any person who is subject to a family violence protective order and who, during the
pendency of such protective order, receives, possesses, transports, or attempts to purchase
or obtain transfer of a firearm commits a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
imprisoned for not less than one year nor more than five years.
(c) This Code section shall not apply to any person who has been pardoned for the felony
by the President of the United States, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, or the person
or agency empowered to grant pardons under the constitutions or laws of the several states
or of a foreign nation and, by the terms of the pardon, has expressly been authorized to
receive, possess, or transport a firearm. Any person suffering from a disability pursuant
to this Code section may seek to have his or her rights restored by the superior court or by
the State Board of Pardons and Paroles after five years have passed from the completion
of the sentence if the offender has no pending charges and has paid all fines and any
restitution ordered.
(d) A person who has been convicted of a felony or of a family violence offense, but who
has been granted relief from the disabilities imposed by the laws of the United States with
respect to the acquisition, receipt, transfer, shipment, or possession of firearms by the
secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 925, shall, upon presenting to the Board of Public Safety proof that the relief has
been granted and it being established from proof submitted by the applicant to the
satisfaction of the Board of Public Safety that the circumstances regarding the conviction
and the applicant's record and reputation are such that the acquisition, receipt, transfer,
shipment, or possession of firearms by the person would not present a threat to the safety
of the citizens of Georgia and that the granting of the relief sought would not be contrary
to the public interest, be granted relief from the disabilities imposed by this Code section.
A person who has been convicted under federal or state law of a felony pertaining to
antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, or restraint of trade shall, upon presenting to the
Board of Public Safety proof, and it being established from said proof, submitted by the
applicant to the satisfaction of the Board of Public Safety that the circumstances regarding
the conviction and the applicant's record and reputation are such that the acquisition,
receipt, transfer, shipment, or possession of firearms by the person would not present a
threat to the safety of the citizens of Georgia and that the granting of the relief sought
would not be contrary to the public interest, be granted relief from the disabilities imposed
by this Code section. A record that the relief has been granted by the board shall be entered
upon the criminal history of the person maintained by the Georgia Crime Information
Center and the board shall maintain a list of the names of such persons which shall be open
for public inspection.
(e) As used in this Code section, the term 'forcible felony' means any felony which
involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against any person and further
includes, without limitation, murder; murder in the second degree; burglary in any degree;
robbery; armed robbery; home invasion in any degree; kidnapping; hijacking of an aircraft
or hijacking a motor vehicle in the first degree; aggravated stalking; rape; aggravated child
molestation; aggravated sexual battery; arson in the first degree; the manufacturing,
transporting, distribution, or possession of explosives with intent to kill, injure, or
intimidate individuals or destroy a public building; terroristic threats; or acts of treason or
insurrection.
(f)(e) Any person sentenced as a first offender pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title
42 or sentenced pursuant to subsection (a) or (c) of Code Section 16-13-2 and subsequently
discharged without court adjudication of guilt as a matter of law pursuant to Code
Section 42-8-60 or 16-13-2, as applicable, shall, upon such discharge, be relieved from the
disabilities imposed by this Code section.
(g)(f) For any violation of subsection (b) or (b.1) of this Code section involving multiple
firearms, each firearm connected to such violation shall constitute a separate offense.
(g) Any person subject to a family violence protective order shall, upon the expiration or
dismissal of such family violence protective order, be relieved from the disabilities
imposed by this Code section."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025, and shall apply to any family violence
conviction or family violence protective order issued on or after such date.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
House Bill 452 would make it a Georgia felony for people convicted of family violence offenses or subject to family violence protective orders to receive, possess, transport, or try to buy firearms.
### Plain-language summary
Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-131), firearm possession bans mainly target convicted felons and certain probationers. This bill adds new categories: people convicted of a family violence offense, people on first-offender probation for a family violence offense, and people currently subject to a family violence protective order. Any of them who receives, possesses, transports, or tries to buy or obtain a firearm would commit a felony.
The bill also adds definitions for 'family violence offense,' 'family violence protective order,' and 'antique firearm' (which is excluded from the ban), and clarifies the existing 'forcible felony' definition. People barred because of a protective order get their gun rights back automatically once the order expires or is dismissed; others can ask a superior court or the State Board of Pardons and Paroles to restore their rights five years after completing their sentence if they have no pending charges and have paid fines and restitution. The changes would take effect July 1, 2025, and apply to convictions or protective orders issued on or after that date.
### What it does
- Bars anyone convicted of a family violence offense, or on first-offender probation for one, from receiving, possessing, transporting, or buying a firearm, punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison (5 years if the offense was a forcible felony).
- Bars anyone currently subject to a family violence protective order from receiving, possessing, transporting, or trying to buy a firearm, punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison.
- Adds a legal definition of 'family violence offense' tied to the offenses listed in Georgia's family violence code (O.C.G.A. § 19-13-1) and a definition of 'family violence protective order.'
- Excludes 'antique firearms' (pre-1898 designs and certain replicas) from the definition of firearm covered by this section.
- Lets a person barred under this law ask a superior court or the State Board of Pardons and Paroles to restore firearm rights five years after completing a sentence, if they have no pending charges and have paid fines and restitution.
- Automatically restores firearm rights once a family violence protective order expires or is dismissed.
### Who it affects
People convicted of family violence offenses or on first-offender probation for one, people currently under a family violence protective order, victims and family members involved in those court cases, superior courts and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles handling rights-restoration requests, and firearm dealers who must screen buyers.
### Why it matters
Georgians with a family violence conviction or an active protective order against them would face felony charges for owning or trying to buy a gun, closing a gap in current law that mainly restricts felons. The change could affect prosecutions, background checks, and how quickly someone can regain gun rights after a case ends.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 16-11-131 to add definitions for 'antique firearm,' 'family violence offense,' and 'family violence protective order,' and restates the existing 'forcible felony' definition.
- New subsection (b.2) makes it a felony (1 to 5 years, or 5 years if the underlying offense was a forcible felony) for someone convicted of or on probation for a family violence offense to possess, transport, or try to buy a firearm.
- New subsection (b.3) makes it a felony (1 to 5 years) for someone subject to a family violence protective order to possess, transport, or try to buy a firearm while the order is active.
- Amended subsection (c) lets a person seek restoration of firearm rights through superior court or the State Board of Pardons and Paroles five years after completing their sentence, if there are no pending charges and fines/restitution are paid.
- New subsection (g) automatically lifts the firearm ban once a family violence protective order expires or is dismissed.
- Section 2 sets the effective date as July 1, 2025, applying to family violence convictions or protective orders issued on or after that date.
## Status
- Status: Introduced (2025-02-13)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2025-02-19)
- Sponsors: Shea Roberts, Karen Lupton, Lisa Campbell, Anne Westbrook, Bryce Berry, Tangie Herring
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70324
> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb452.md?full=1