Major gun laws in all 50 states
(Michael Murphy)
Gun ownership laws vary based on which of the 50 states you live in. For example, some states, like Washington, partially allow long guns to be given via a state permit, while for handguns, you must register the gun with a firearms permit. Others, like South Carolina and Texas, have barely any limits on who can get a gun and what type of gun they can buy. With no nationwide standard, navigating each state’s gun laws can be tricky.
We’re building a community and want you to be part of it.
Gun laws by state
Use the table below to see how each state handles gun ownership:
| State | Background checks for private sales? | State permit required? | Firearm registration required? | Assault weapons ban? |
| Alabama | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Alaska | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Arizona | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Arkansas | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | California | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Colorado | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Connecticut | ✅ | ✅ | Partial | ✅ | Delaware | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Florida | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Georgia | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Hawaii | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Idaho | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Illinois | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Indiana | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Iowa | ❌ | ❌Handguns
✅ Long-guns |
❌ | ❌ | Kansas | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Kentucky | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Louisiana | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Maine | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Maryland | ✅ | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
✅ | Massachusetts | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | Michigan | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ | Minnesota | ❌ | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ | ❌ | Mississippi | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Missouri | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Montana | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Nebraska | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ | ❌ | Nevada | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | New Hampshire | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | New Jersey | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
✅ | New Mexico | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | New York | ✅ | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
✅ | North Carolina | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ | ❌ | North Dakota | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Ohio | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Oklahoma | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Oregon | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Pennsylvania | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ | Rhode Island | ✅ | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ | ❌ | South Carolina | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | South Dakota | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Tennessee | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Texas | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Utah | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Vermont | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Virginia | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Washington | ✅ | ❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ Handguns ✅ Long-guns |
❌ | West Virginia | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Wisconsin | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Wyoming | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | District of Columbia | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
The Rantt Rundown
Gun violence inflicts an immense toll on Americans — claiming tens of thousands of lives each year. Lax gun laws and unfettered access to firearms have simplified how people can take their own lives and/or the lives of others. The cost of American gun violence is tragic, and, without major gun reform, will continue to be on the rise.
