Georgia has long been known as a state friendly to the Second Amendment. Lawmakers in 2006 approved a bill that allows Georgians to use deadly force in public places, such as parking lots and jogging trails, to protect themselves. A Georgia gun permit requires a background check.

A bill is being discussed in the Georgia legislature that would allow the roughly 300,000 people with permits to carry concealed weapons anywhere in their vehicles and to state parks and historic sites.

For more, go here to see answers to commonly asked questions.

S.C. has a defense of habitation law, commonly referred to as Castle Doctrine. It says people can protect their homes, their businesses, and their families inside. To carry a gun in public, South Carolina requires you to go through Concealable Weapons Permit training. You do not have to have a permit to have a gun inside your home or business.

Responsible gun ownership means learning and practicing behaviors that will help prevent needless injury, death and theft.

· Record the serial number of your gun.
· Check with your local police department to learn the laws about carrying or transporting guns outside of your home.
· Take a gun safety course and learn how to use and care for your gun. Through a good safety course you will learn the parts of the gun, how to load and unload it, the safety features, how to safely care for a gun, and how to safely handle, aim and fire a gun.
· Practice safe gun storage.
· Do not allow children or teens to handle or use a gun without parental or professional supervision.
· Know your gun's standard safety features and use them!
· Always handle your gun as if it were loaded.
· Load your gun only when you are ready to fire it.
· Clean and inspect the gun regularly and carefully.
· Check your gun twice before you clean it to be sure it is unloaded.
· When cleaning your gun, never leave the are. It should be in your view at all times.
· Do not try to fix a gun yourself if it breaks.
· Dispose of ammunition properly. Contact your local police for assistance in disposing of ammunition - DO NOT throw it in the trash.
· Never show off with your gun or talk about it at a party.

from Georgians for Gun Safety

It is your responsibility to keep your gun out of the hands of those who, deliberately or accidentally, may misuse it.

· Lock your gun. Guns should be stored unloaded, uncocked and securely locked out of sight or reach to minimize the risk that they will be used by unauthorized others such as children, teens, burglars, or the mentally ill or emotionally disturbed.
· Remember that when the magazine is removed from a semi-automatic hand gun, there still may be a bullet in the chamber. Check the chamber to be sure it is empty.
· Keep the keys to the lock(s) that secure your gun(s) on your key chain and with you at all times. Keep keys out of reach of children and teens.
· Store ammunition locked up separately from your gun and away from moisture and heat.
· Do not store your gun or ammunition with valuables that are likely to be stolen.
· Do not store your gun under a bed, mattress or in an unlocked bedroom drawer.

from Georgians for Gun Safety

Trigger Lock. Trigger locks can be purchased for most guns. The lock between the trigger guard and the trigger makes it difficult to fire the gun until the trigger lock is removed with a key. Never use a trigger lock on a loaded gun. There are no manufacturing standards for trigger locks-be sure to choose a sturdy, well made model.

Padlock. Putting a padlock around the "window" in the frame of a revolver where the cylinder has been disarmed by swinging it out makes it impossible to fire. Do not place a padlock behind the gun's trigger. This method is unreliable and does not work for all guns.

Cable lock. A gun will not fire when a cable lock is used to stop the cylinder of a revolver from closing, or when the cable is fed through the barrel of a revolver or semi-automatic pistol. The cable can also be locked around a heavy object that won't move so that the gun cannot be taken.

Gun Safe. A gun safe or lock box provides the additional advantage of keeping firearms out of sight. To be effective they must be made of sturdy, hard to penetrate materials such as heavy gauge steal and have a strong locking mechanism.

from Georgians for Gun Safety