Compendium of State Firearms Laws

Since state laws are subject to frequent change, this chart is not to be considered legal advice or a restatement of the law.

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With over 20,000 "gun control" laws on the books in America, there are two challenges facing every gun owner. First, you owe it to yourself to become familiar with the federal laws on gun ownership. Only by knowing the laws can you avoid innocently breaking one.

The following chart lists the main provisions of state firearms laws as of the date of publication. In addition to the state provisions, the purchase, sale, and, in certain circumstances, the possession and interstate transportation of firearms are regulated by the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968 as amended by the Firearms Owners' Protection Act of 1986. Also, cities and localities may have their own gun ordinances in addition to federal and state restrictions. Details may be obtained by contacting local law enforcement authorities or by consulting your state's firearms law digest compiled by the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.

State	Gun Ban	Exemptions to National Instant Check System	State Waiting Period Number of Days		License or Permit to Purchase		Registration
			Handguns	Longguns	Handguns	Longguns	Handguns	Longguns
Alabama	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Alaska	--	RTC	--	--	--	--	--	--
Arizona	--	RTC	--	--	--	--	--	--
Arkansas	--	RTC3	--	--	--	--	--	--
California	X20	--	1014	1014,15	23	--	X	24
Colorado	20	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Connecticut	X20	--	1414,15	1414,15	X16, 23	--	--	24
Delaware	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Florida	--	GRTC	314,15	--	--	--	--	--
Georgia	--	RTC	--	--	--	--	--	--
Hawaii	X20	L, RTC	--	--	X16, 23	X16	X12	X12
Idaho	--	RTC	--	--	--	--	--	--
Illinois	20	--	3	1	X16	X16	--4	4
Indiana	--	RTC, O3	--	--	--	--	--	--
Iowa	--	L, RTC	--	--	X16	--	--	--
Kansas	--	--	1	--	1	--	--1	--
Kentucky	--	RTC3	--	--	--	--	--	--
Louisiana	--	GRTC	--	--	--	--	--	--
Maine	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Maryland	X20	O3	714	79,14	8. 23	--	--	--
Massachusetts	X20	GRTC	7	--	X16	X16	--	--
Michigan	--	O3	--	--	X16, 23	--	X	--
Minnesota	--	--	716	16	X16	X16	--	--
Mississippi	--	RTC3	--	--	--	--	--	--
Missouri	--	--	7	--	X16	--	--	--
Montana	--	RTC	--	--	--	--	--	--
Nebraska	--	L	--	--	X	--	--	--
Nevada	--	RTC	1	--	--	--	1	--
New Hampshire	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
New Jersey	X20	--	--	--	X16	X16	--	24
New Mexico	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
New York	X20	L, RTC	--	--	X16, 23	16	X	7
North Carolina	--	L, RTC	--	--	X16	--	--	--
North Dakota	--	RTC	--	--	--	--	--	--
Ohio	20	--	1	--	16	--	1	--
Oklahoma	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Oregon	--	GRTC	--	--	--	--	--	--
Pennsylvania	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Rhode Island	--	--	7	7	23	--	--	--
South Carolina	--	RTC	8	--	8	--	--	--
South Dakota	--	GRTC	2	--	--	--	--	--
Tennessee	--	RTC	--	--	--	--	--	--
Texas	--	RTC3	--	--	--	--	--	--
Utah	--	RTC	--	--	--	--	--	--
Vermont	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Virginia	X20	--	1,8	--	1,8	--	--	--
Washington	--	O3	510	--	--	--	--	--
West Virginia	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Wisconsin	--	--	2	--	--	--	--	--
Wyoming	--	RTC	--	--	--	--	--	--
District of Columbia	X20	L	--	--	X16	X16	X16	X
State	Record of Sale Reported to State or Local Govt.	State Provision for Right-to-Carry Concealed15	Carrying Openly Prohibited	Owner ID Cards or Licensing	Firearm Rights Consti- tutional Provision	State Firearms Preemption Laws	Range Protection Law
Alabama	X	R	X11	--	X	X	X
Alaska	--	R	--	--	X	--	X
Arizona	--	R	--	--	X	X	X
Arkansas	--	R	X5	--	X	X	X
California	X	L	X6	--	--	X	X
Colorado	--	L	1	--	X	--	X
Connecticut	X	R	X	--	X	X17	X
Delaware	--	L	--	--	X	X	--
Florida	--	R	X	--	X	X	X
Georgia	--	R	X	--	X	X	X
Hawaii	X	L	X	X	X	--	--
Idaho	--	R	--	--	X	X	X
Illinois	X	D	X	X	X	--	X
Indiana	X	R	X	--	X	X18	X
Iowa	--	L	X	--	--	X	X
Kansas	1	D	1	--	X	--	X
Kentucky	--	R	--	--	X	X	X
Louisiana	--	R	--	--	X	X	X
Maine	--	R	--	--	X	X	X
Maryland	X	L	X	--	--	X	X
Massachusetts	X	L	X	X	X	X17	X
Michigan	X	R	X11	--	X	X	X
Minnesota	--	L	X	--	--	X	--
Mississippi	--	R	--	--	X	X	X
Missouri	X	D	--	--	X	X	X
Montana	--	R	--	--	X	X	X
Nebraska	--	D	--	--	X	--	--
Nevada	--	R	--	--	X	X	X
New Hampshire	--	R	--	--	X	--	X
New Jersey	X	L	X	X	--	X17	X
New Mexico	--	D	--	--	X	X	--
New York	X	L	X	X	--	X22	X
North Carolina	X	R	--	--	X	X	X
North Dakota	--	R	X6	--	X	X	X
Ohio	1	D	1	16	X	--	X
Oklahoma	--	R	X6	--	X	X	X
Oregon	X	R	--	--	X	X	X
Pennsylvania	X	R	X11	--	X	X	X
Rhode Island	X	L	X	--	X	X	X
South Carolina	X	R	X	--	X	X	X
South Dakota	X	R	--	--	X	X	X
Tennessee	--	R	X5	--	X	X	X
Texas	--	R	X	--	X	X	X
Utah	--	R	X6	--	X	X	X
Vermont	--	R19	X5	--	X	X	X
Virginia	1	R	--	--	X	X	X
Washington	X	R	X21	--	X	X	--
West Virginia	--	R	--	--	X	X	X
Wisconsin	--	D	--	--	X	X	X
Wyoming	--	R	--	--	X	X	X
District of Columbia	X	L	X	X	NA	--	--

Concealed Carry Codes:

Notes:

1. In certain cities or counties.

2. National Instant Check System (NICS) exemption codes:

RTC-Carry Permit Holders Exempt From NICS

GRTC-Holders of RTC Permits issued before November 30, 1998 exempt from NICS. Holders of more recent permits are not exempt.

L-Holders of state licenses to possess or purchase or firearms ID cards exempt from NICS.

O-Other, See Note 3.

3. NICS exemption notes: Arkansas: RTC permits issued prior to 11/30/98 and those issued on and after 4/1/99 qualify. Those issued between 11/1/98 and 3/31/99 do not qualify. Indiana: Personal protection, hunting and target permits all qualify for exemptions. Kentucky: RTC permits issued after July 15, 1998 and prior to November 30, 1998 are exempt. Maryland: There are no exemptions for handgun purchases. For long gun purchases, those holding RTC permits issued before November 30, 1998 are exempt. Michigan: No exemptions for handguns, license for long guns. Mississippi: Permits issued to security guards do not qualify. Texas: Texas Peace Officer License, TCLEOSE Card, is valid only if issued prior to November 30, 1998. Washington: RTC permits issued after July 1, 1996 and prior to November 30, 1998 are exempt.

4. Chicago only. No handgun not already registered may be possessed.

5. Arkansas prohibits carrying a firearm "with a purpose to employ it as a weapon against a person." Tennessee prohibits carrying "with the intent to go armed." Vermont prohibits carrying a firearm "with the intent or purpose of injuring another."

6. Loaded.

7. New York City only.

8. A permit is required to acquire another handgun before 30 days have elapsed following the acquisition of a handgun.

9. Maryland subjects purchases of "assault weapons" to a 7-day waiting period.

10. May be extended by police to 30 days in some circumstances. An individual not holding a driver's license must wait 90 days.

11. Carrying a handgun openly in a motor vehicle requires a license.

12. Every person arriving in Hawaii is required to register any firearm(s) brought into the State within 3 days of arrival of the person or firearm(s), whichever occurs later. Handguns purchased from licensed dealers must be registered within 5 days.

13. Concealed carry laws vary significantly between the states. Ratings reflect the real effect a state's particular laws have on the ability of citizens to carry firearms for self-defense.

14. Purchases from dealers only. Maryland: 7 business days. Purchasers of regulated firearms must undergo background checks performed by the State Police, either through a dealer or directly through the State Police.

15. The waiting period does not apply to a person holding a valid permit or license to carry a firearm. In Connecticut, a hunting license also exempts the holder for long gun purchasers. California: transfers of a long gun to a person's parent, child or grandparent are exempt from the waiting period.

16. Connecticut: A certificate of eligibility or a carry permit is required to obtain a handgun and a carry permit is required to transport a handgun outside your home. District of Columbia: No handgun may be possessed unless it was registered prior to Sept. 23, 1976 and re-registered by Feb. 5, 1977. A permit to purchase is required for a rifle or shotgun. Hawaii: Purchase permits, required for all firearms, may not be issued until 14 days after application. A handgun purchase permit is valid for 10 days, for one handgun; a long gun permit is valid for one year, for multiple long guns. Illinois: A Firearm Owner's Identification Card (FOI) is required to possess or purchase a firearm, must be issued to qualified applicants within 30 days, and is valid for 5 years. Iowa: A purchase permit is required for handguns, and is valid for one year, beginning three days after issuance. Massachusetts: Firearms and feeding devices for firearms are divided into classes. Depending on the class, a firearm identification card (FID) or class A license or class B license is required to possess, purchase, or carry a firearm, ammunition therefore, or firearm feeding device, or "large capacity feeding device." Michigan: A handgun purchaser must obtain a license to purchase from local law enforcement, and within 10 days present the license and handgun to obtain a certificate of inspection. Minnesota: A handgun transfer or carrying permit, or a 7-day waiting period and handgun transfer report, is required to purchase handguns or "assault weapons" from a dealer. A permit or transfer report must be issued to qualified applicants within 7 days. A permit is valid for one year, a transfer report for 30 days. Missouri: A purchase permit is required for a handgun, must be issued to qualified applicants within 7 days, and is valid for 30 days. New Jersey: Firearm owners must possess an FID, which must be issued to qualified applicants within 30 days. To purchase a handgun, a purchase permit, which must be issued within 30 days to qualified applicants and is valid for 90 days, is required. An FID is required to purchase long guns. New York: Purchase, possession and/or carrying of a handgun require a single license, which includes any restrictions made upon the bearer. New York City also requires a license for long guns. North Carolina: To purchase a handgun, a license or permit is required, which must be issued to qualified applicants within 30 days. Ohio: Some cities require a permit-to-purchase or firearm owner ID card.

17. Preemption through judicial ruling. Local regulation may be instituted in Massachusetts if ratified by the legislature.

18. Except Gary and East Chicago and local laws enacted before January, 1994.

19. Vermont law respects your right to carry without a permit.

20. "Assault weapons" are prohibited in California, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. Denver, Colorado and some local jurisdictions in New York and Ohio also ban "assault weapons." Hawaii prohibits "assault pistols." California bans "unsafe handguns." Illinois: Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Morton Grove, Winnetka, Wilmette, and Highland Park prohibit handguns; some cities prohibit other kinds of firearms. Maryland prohibits "assault pistols" and the sale or manufacture of any handgun manufactured after Jan. 1, 1985, that does appear on the Handgun Roster. Massachusetts: It is unlawful to sell, transfer or possess "any assault weapon or large capacity feeding device" (more than 10 rounds) that was not legally possessed on September 13, 1994. Ohio: some cities prohibit handguns of certain magazine capacities." Virginia prohibits "Street Sweeper" shotguns. The District of Columbia prohibits new acquisition of handguns and any semi-automatic firearm capable of using a detachable ammunition magazine of more than 12 rounds capacity. (With respect to some of these laws and ordinances, individuals may retain prohibited firearms owned previously, with certain restrictions.)

21. Local jurisdictions may opt out of prohibition.

22. Preemption only applies to handguns.

23. Requires proof of safety training for purchase. California: Must have Handgun Safety Certificate receipt which is valid for five years. Connecticut: To receive certificate of eligibility, must complete a handgun safety course approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety. Hawaii: Must have completed an approved handgun safety course. Maryland: Must complete an approved handgun safety course. Michigan: A person must correctly answer 70% of the questions on a basic safety review questionnaire in order to obtain a license to purchase. New York: Some counties require a handgun safety training course to receive a license. Rhode Island: Must receive a state-issued handgun safety card.

24. "Assault weapon" registration. California had two dates by which assault weapons had to be registered or possession after such date would be considered a felony: March 31, 1992 for the named make and model firearms banned in the 1989 legislation and December 31, 2000 for the firearms meeting the definition of the "assault weapons in the 1999 legislation. In Connecticut, those firearms banned by specific make and model in the 1993 law had to be registered by October 1, 1994 or possession would be considered a felony. A recent law requires registration of additional guns by October 1, 2003. In New Jersey, any "assault weapon" not registered, licensed, or rendered inoperable pursuant to a state police certificate by May 1, 1991, is considered contraband.

Source: NRA http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws.asp?FormMode=state