Firearms Licenses

Firearms License applications may be made Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 4:30 PM, excluding holidays. Because of the length of time involved in completing the application, no application will be commenced after 4:30 PM

Basic Requirements:

1. Applicant must be not less than 21 years of age;

2. Applicant must be a resident of Ware County to apply for and receive the license here;

3. Applicant who is not a citizen of the United States must provide proof of legal presence;

4. Applicant must provide picture I.D. and proof or residence in Ware County;

5. Applicant must not currently be on probation for any offense;

6. Applicant must be fingerprinted and submit to a criminal and mental health records check; non citizens submit to an Immigrant Alien Inquiry through the Immigration and Naturalization Service;

7. Applicant must not have any legal disqualification to receipt of the license. [Important: Please see the notes below concerning ineligibility of certain persons.

Procedure:

1. Bring $62.00 and picture ID (cash, check or money order) to the Ware County Probate Court.


2. Take paperwork given to you by Probate Court along to the Ware County Sheriff’s Dept.  Please note that the fingerprinting is only done on (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-11 and 1-4 p.m.).


3. The license is good for 5 years.  License will be mailed to you within 2 weeks.

If you have any questions please contact the Ware County Probate Court at  (912) 287-4315.

Other Information:

1. As of July 1, 2006, renewal applications will be treated the same as original applications and will require a criminal history records check from both the GCIC and the FBI.

2. A lost or stolen license may be replaced upon payment of a fee of $10.00.

3. Note: There is no refund of any part of the application and other fees once the application is filed and the process has begun.

4. Upon receipt of the required criminal and mental health records, and the Immigrant Alien Inquiry (if applicable), those records are reviewed for the applicants eligibility to receive a license. Any questions concerning eligibility are referred to the Judge for determination. If the applicant is determined to be eligible to receive a license, the license is issued. Note: The Ware County Probate Court has no control over the length of time for the return of the criminal and mental health records from the F.B.I. and the G.B.I. or from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (if applicable). This process may take as much as six months, although it is usually less than sixty days. The Court cannot be required to issue a license until the necessary reports have been received.

Ineligible Persons:

Under O.C.G.A. §16-11-129(b), no license may be issued to certain persons, as follows:

1.Pending Criminal Charges – Any person who is a fugitive from justice or against whom proceedings are pending for any felony, forcible misdemeanor, or violations of Code Sections 16-11-126 (carrying a concealed weapon), 16-11-127 (carrying deadly weapons to or at public gatherings), or 16-11-128 (carrying pistol without license) is ineligible to receive a license until such time as the proceedings are adjudicated.

2.Felony Conviction(s) – Any person convicted of or placed on probation as a first offender for a felony offense by a proper court is ineligible to receive a license, unless the person has (1) received a pardon which expressly authorizes the receipt, possession or transport of a firearm, (2) received from the Board of Public Safety relief from disabilities, or (3) been discharged from first offender probation without adjudication of guilt. The pardon, relief or discharge must be exhibited to the Court. If application is made based upon relied from disabilities, the applicant must have been free of supervision for not less than five years for non-forcible felony convictions or not less than ten years for forcible felony convictions.

3.Drug Convictions – Any person who has been “convicted” of any offense arising out of the unlawful manufacture, distribution, possession or use of a controlled substance or dangerous drug is ineligible to receive a license, unless that person has been pardoned. Note: for purposes of drug offenses only, “conviction” includes a plea of guilty, a finding of guilt by a court of competent jurisdiction, the acceptance of a plea of nolo contendere, or the affording of first offender treatment. Even a person who has received a pardon or has completed first offender probation and been discharged without adjudication of guilt for an offense involving illegal drugs is ineligible to receive a license.

4.Misdemeanor Convictions – Any person who has been convicted of a forcible misdemeanor is ineligible to receive a license until the person has been free of restraint or supervision for at least five years.

5.Other Convictions – Any person who has been convicted of an offense under Code Sections 16-11-126 (carrying a concealed weapon), 16-11-127 (carrying deadly weapons to or at public gatherings), or 16-11-128 (carrying pistol without license) is ineligible to receive a license until the person has been free of restraint or supervision for at least three years.

6.Mental Health Hospitalization – Any person who has been hospitalized as an inpatient in any mental hospital or alcohol or drug treatment center within five years prior to the date of the application is ineligible to receive a license, unless the Judge, in his discretion, issues the license after consideration of the circumstances surrounding the hospitalization and any recommendation by the superintendent of the hospital or treatment center where the applicant as a patient.

Further, under the Gun Control Act of 1968, 18 U.S.C. §921 et seq., any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence is ineligible to receive a license, unless the person has received a pardon or relief from disabilities, and any person who has ever been involuntarily committed to an inpatient mental health treatment facility is ineligible to receive a license.