Gun Laws by U.S State – The Complete Guide 2020
Posted Apr 17th, 2020 in Gun Laws by U.S State – The Complete Guide 2020
In general, thanks to the 2nd amendment enshrined in our constitution, the US is one of the most gun-friendly countries in the world. However, guns laws vary from state to state, such as on the legality of open carry for example. In this concise guide, we will be providing with you with all the essential information you need to remain educated about the various gun laws in each of the 50 U.S states plus the capital district.
Note: As per Federal law, background checks are required on all persons purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer. Thus, the status of background checks mentioned here deals primarily with purchase from private arm dealers.
Table of Content
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Alabama
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed* | Allowed* |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Open carry is allowed but the firearm must be in a holster
Alaska
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Arizona
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Arkansas
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No* | No* |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Only applicable when outside your county of residence
California
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | Yes |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | Yes |
Firearms Registration | Yes | Yes |
Open Carry | Not Allowed* | Not Allowed* |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | Yes (10)** | Yes (10)** |
Comments
*Firearms can be openly carried in some rural counties.
**As of now, the law has yet to take effect
Colorado
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed* | Allowed* |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | Yes (15) | Yes (15) |
Comments
*Not allowed in certain areas such as Denver.
Connecticut
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | Yes |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | Yes |
Firearms Registration | Yes* | Yes* |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Allowed** |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | Yes (10) | Yes (10) |
Comments
*Doesn’t apply to out of state sales
**There are no laws in place regarding long guns and open carry
Delaware
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
District of Columbia
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | Yes |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | Yes |
Firearms Registration | Yes | Yes |
Open Carry | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | Yes (10) | Yes (10) |
Florida
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Not Allowed* | Not Allowed* |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Exceptions include guns for fishing or hunting
Georgia
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Allowed (Permit required) |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Hawaii
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | Yes |
Firearms Registration | Yes | Yes |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required)* | Allowed (Permit required) |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | Yes (10) | No |
Comments
*Allowed but permits are rarely issued
Idaho
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No* | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Non-Idaho residents do require a permit
Illinois
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | Yes |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Not Allowed | Not Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Indiana
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Allowed (Permit required) |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Iowa
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required)* | Allowed (Permit required)* |
Background Checks Required | Yes | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*No permit is required to open carry except when in vehicles or when inside city limits.
Kansas
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Kentucky
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Louisiana
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Maine
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Maryland
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes* | No |
Firearms Registration | Yes | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Not Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Partial |
Restriction on Magazine Size | Yes (10) | Yes |
Comments
*Additionally, a handgun qualification license.
Massachusetts
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | Yes |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Not Allowed* |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | Yes | Yes |
Red Flag Law | Yes | Yes |
Comments
*Exceptions include hunting
Michigan
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No* | No |
Firearms Registration | Yes | No |
Open Carry | Allowed** | Allowed ** |
Background Checks Required | Yes | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Only applicable if the person has a carry license and sale is through a licensed dealer.
**Permit is required to open carry in vehicles
Minnesota
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | Yes |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes* | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Allowed (Permit required) |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Minnesota residents can use a carry permit to make purchase.
Mississippi
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Missouri
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Montana
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No* | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Permit is required for conceal carry.
Nebraska
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed* | Allowed* |
Background Checks Required | Yes | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Firearms must be visible in a vehicle.
Nevada
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes* | Yes* |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Voluntary – up to the seller to decide.
New Hampshire
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed* |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Long guns in vehicles cannot be loaded.
New Jersey
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | Yes |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | Yes |
Firearms Registration | Yes* | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | Yes (10) | Yes (10)** |
Comments
*Voluntary
**6 in case of semi-automatic shotguns
New Mexico
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes* | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Only applicable for conceal carry.
New York
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | No |
Firearms Registration | Yes | No |
Open Carry | Not Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | Yes (10) | Yes (10) |
North Carolina
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
North Dakota
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Ohio
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed* | Allowed* |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Subject to some restrictions.
Oklahoma
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Not Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Oregon
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | Yes |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Pennsylvania
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | Yes |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed* | Allowed * |
Background Checks Required | Yes | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Legal in all places except Philadelphia or in a vehicle.
Rhode Island
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | Yes |
Purchase Permit Needed | Yes | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
South Carolina
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Not Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
South Dakota
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed* | Allowed * |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
* Firearm must be visible in a vehicle.
Tennessee
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Allowed* |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Must be unloaded.
Texas
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Utah
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes* | Yes |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed (Permit required) | Allowed (Permit required) |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Not required inside a vehicle.
Vermont
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | Yes* | Yes* |
Restriction on Magazine Size | Yes (15) | Yes (10) |
Comments
*Not applicable if sale is to a family member.
Virginia
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Washington
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | Yes | No |
Open Carry | Allowed* | Allowed * |
Background Checks Required | Yes | Yes |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Loaded handguns in a vehicle required a permit. Loaded long guns are illegal to openly carry in a vehicle.
West Virginia
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Wisconsin
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | Yes | No |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Wyoming
Handguns | Long guns | |
Permit Required | No* | No* |
Purchase Permit Needed | No | No |
Firearms Registration | No | No |
Open Carry | Allowed | Allowed |
Background Checks Required | No | No |
Restriction on Magazine Size | No | No |
Comments
*Non-Wyoming residents require a permit.