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.