Compendium of
State Firearms Laws


Compiled by
NRA Institute for Legislative Action
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030


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

Second, while federal legislation receives much more media attention, state legislatures and city councils make many more decisions regarding your right to own and carry firearms. NRA members and all gun owners must take extra care to be aware of anti-gun laws and ordinances at the state and local levels.

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.


All fifty states have passed sportsmen's protection laws to halt harrassment.

State

Gun Ban
 

Exemptions to
NICS2

 

State Waiting
Period-Number
of Days

 

License or
Permit to
Purchase
or Other Prerequisite

 

Registration

Handguns
Longguns
Handguns
Longguns
Handguns
Longguns

Alabama

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Alaska

--
RTC
--
--
--
--
--
--

Arizona

--
RTC
--
--
--
--
--
--

Arkansas

--
RTC3
--
--
--
--
--
--

California

X1
--
105
105,6
10, 11
--
X
X 13

Colorado

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Connecticut

X1
--
145,6
145,6
X9, 11
--
--
X 13

Delaware

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Florida

--
--
36
--
--
--
--
--

Georgia

--
RTC
--
--
--
--
--
--

Hawaii

X1
L, RTC
--
--
X9, 11
X9
X12
X12

Idaho

--
RTC
--
--
--
--
--
--

Illinois

7
--
3
2
X9
X9
X 14
X 14

Indiana

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Iowa

--
L, RTC
--
--
X9
--
--
--

Kansas

--
--
7
--
7
--
7
--

Kentucky

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Louisiana

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Maine

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Maryland

X1
--
75
74,5
X 10, 11
--
--
--

Massachusetts

X1
--
--
--
X9
X9
--
--

Michigan

--
L
--
--
X9, 11
--
X
--

Minnesota

--
--
79
X 9
X9
X9
--
--

Mississippi

--
RTC3
--
--
--
--
--
--

Missouri

--
--
--
--
X9
--
--
--

Montana

--
RTC
--
--
--
--
--
--

Nebraska

--
L
--
--
X
--
--
--

Nevada

--
RTC
7
--
--
--
7
--

New Hampshire

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

New Jersey

X1
--
--
--
X9
X9
--
X 13

New Mexico

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

New York

X1
L, RTC
--
--
X9, 11
9
X
X 15

North Carolina

--
L, RTC
--
--
X9
--
--
--

North Dakota

--
RTC
--
--
--
--
--
--

Ohio

7
--
7
--
7
--
7
--

Oklahoma

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Oregon

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Pennsylvania

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Rhode Island

--
--
75
75
X 11
--
--
--

South Carolina

--
RTC
--
--
--
--
--
--

South Dakota

--
--
2
--
--
--
--
--

Tennessee

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Texas

--
RTC
--
--
--
--
--
--

Utah

--
RTC
--
--
--
--
--
--

Vermont

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Virginia

X1
--
--
--
X10
--
--
--

Washington

--
--
58
--
--
--
--
--

West Virginia

--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--

Wisconsin

--
--
2
--
--
--
--
--

Wyoming

--
RTC
--
--
--
--
--
--

District of Columbia

X1
L
--
--
X9
X9
X9
X

 

State

Record of Sale Reported to State or Local Govt.
State Provision for Right-to-Carry Concealed
Carrying Openly Prohibited
OwnerID Cards or Licensing
Firearm Rights Constitutional Provision
State Firearms Preemption Laws
Range Protection Law

Alabama

--
M
X19
--
X
X
X

Alaska

--
R17
--
--
X
X24
X

Arizona

--
R
--
--
X
X
X

Arkansas

--
R
X20
--
X
X
X

California

X
L
X21
--
--
X
X

Colorado

--
R
22
--
X
X22
X

Connecticut

X
M
X
--
X
X25
X

Delaware

--
L
--
--
X
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

--
R
X
--
X
X26
X

Iowa

--
M
X
--
--
X
X

Kansas

7
D
7
--
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
X25
X

Michigan

X
R
X19
--
X
X
X

Minnesota

--
R18
X
--
--
X
--

Mississippi

--
R
--
--
X
X
X

Missouri

X
R
--
--
X
X
X

Montana

--
R
--
--
X
X
X

Nebraska

--
D
--
--
X
--
--

Nevada

--
R
--
--
X
X
X

New Hampshire

--
R
--
--
X
X
X

New Jersey

X
L
X
X
--
X25
X

New Mexico

--
R
--
--
X
X
X

New York

X
L