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