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.