ATLANTA — Anytime Mike Poss is west of the Savannah River, you better believe he’s packing his Glock.

But when he crosses the river — part of the natural boundary that Georgia shares with South Carolina — Poss has had to slip his handgun into the center console.

That’s because — until Friday — South Carolina did not recognize Georgia weapon licenses.

This has made life tricky for those, like Poss, who live along the state line.

Poss lives in Lavonia, which is one of the last stops in Georgia before motorists enter the Palmetto State. He and his wife make frequent visits to Anderson, South Carolina, to shop, eat out and catch a movie.

The Georgia license holder said he is there often enough, he has accidentally worn his handgun in the wrong state. When he does, he said he quietly walks back out to his car to deposit the firearm in the console — one of few places where he’s allowed to keep it.

“Just crossing this body of water made me a criminal,” he said.

That changed last week when South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signed a bill that requires the state to recognize Georgia weapon permits.

It had been a contentious measure for South Carolina lawmakers — and one they have avoided taking up for years. Police and state officials there have long frowned on Georgia’s resistance to mandating training for license holders.

Georgia may not require training, but the state’s application process is rigid, said Rep. Alan Powell, a Republican who lives in Hartwell, near South Carolina. He said that was the argument that proponents took to Columbia.

Georgia will, in turn, recognize South Carolina’s permits. There are now 31 states, including all of Georgia’s neighbors, with such arrangements.

Powell, a fierce advocate for the Second Amendment, was involved in the push for South Carolina to exempt Georgia from its training requirement.

Still, the northeast Georgia lawmaker imparted a word of caution to license holders who may be eager to take advantage of the new law.

“I would encourage any bona fide Georgia concealed weapon licensee to go online to find out what South Carolina laws are and abide by them,” he said.

A full analysis of the differences is underway, Powell said, but a few departures from Georgia law are already recognized.

For example, guns in South Carolina must be hidden from sight, or concealed, whereas Georgia allows firearms to be openly worn, such as on someone’s belt.

It’s on the gun owner to learn the state laws wherever they are, whether in the Low Country or elsewhere, said Jerry Henry, who heads the advocacy group Georgia Carry. Failing to do so could lead to run-ins with South Carolina police.

“If I’m going to drive from here to Texas, I’m going to look at every state that I’m traveling through,” he said.

For years, this has meant putting his handgun in the center console when traveling through South Carolina. For Georgians visiting their neighbor, that’s been one of four options, all of which involve leaving a firearm inside the vehicle. Other approved hideaways included a glove box, a locked container, or in the trunk.

None of these choices have left Poss feeling particularly confident that this handgun would still be there when he returned to the parking lot. He worried that his Georgia tag made him a target for theft.

He also didn’t like being stripped of his ability to protect himself and his wife when in South Carolina.

“I liken it to having a fire extinguisher in your home or car,” he said. “You hope you never have to use it, but you’re glad it’s there.”

The anxiety was gone Sunday, though, when he walked into the Publix grocery store in Anderson with his Glock tucked away under his clothing.

Jill Nolin covers the Georgia Statehouse for CNHI’s newspapers and websites. Reach her at jnolin@cnhi.com.