---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-11-138. Defense of self or others as absolute defense.
collection: code
id: 16-11-138
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-11-138 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-11-138
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-11-138.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-11-138/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t16-ch7-11-(v14a)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=aecbfe9c_0#page=1019
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-11.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-11-137.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-11-150.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMES AND OFFENSES / OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY / DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTALITIES AND PRACTICES / CARRYING AND POSSESSION OF FIREARMS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-11-138. Defense of self or others as absolute defense.

Defense of self or others, as contemplated by and provided for under Article 2 of Chapter 3 of this title, shall be an absolute defense to any violation under this part.

## History

Code 1981, § 16-11-138, enacted by Ga. L. 2014, p. 599, § 1-10/HB 60; Ga. L. 2015, p. 5, § 16/HB 90.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2014, p. 599, § 1-1/HB 60, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: ‘‘This Act shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Safe Carry Protection Act.’’’

## Law Reviews

For article on the 2014 enactment of this Code section, see 31 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 47 (2014).