| Alabama |
No permit is required to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| Alaska |
Alaska does not require a permit to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| American Samoa |
A license is required to possess, import, or sell firearms. Each license issued shall specify the number, quantity, and description of the arms which may be possessed, imported, or sold, or otherwise transferred. A license to possess must be renewed every year and must be in the licensee’s possession when carrying such arms. |
| Arizona |
Arizona does not require a permit to purchase firearms. Carrying a concealed weapon requires a permit. |
| Arkansas |
Arkansas does not require a permit to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| California |
A permit is not required to purchase firearms, but is required to possess a machine gun or an assault weapon. Carrying a concealed firearm requires a license. |
| Colorado |
Colorado does not require a permit to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| Connecticut |
An eligibility certificate or pistol permit is required to purchase a handgun. Both documents are valid for 5 years, allow unlimited purchases, and will waive the long gun waiting period. Carrying a handgun also requires a pistol permit, with a 60-day permit issued by a local official required as a prerequisite to receiving the 5-year permit issued by the Connecticut State Police (CSP). |
| Delaware |
A permit is not required to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| District of Columbia |
A valid registration certificate is required for possession or transfer of any firearm. |
| Florida |
No permit is required to purchase firearms. A license is needed to carry a concealed firearm. |
| Georgia |
Georgia does not require a permit to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| Guam |
A Firearms Identification Card is required to own, possess, use, carry, or acquire any lawful firearm. |
| Hawaii |
A permit to acquire, valid for 10 days, is required for every purchase of a handgun. A permit to acquire, valid for 1 year, is required for unlimited purchases of long guns. A license is needed to carry a handgun. Certain aliens may obtain a permit to acquire or use a firearm. |
| Idaho |
No permit is required to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed weapon. |
| Illinois |
Illinois requires residents to possess a valid FOID card to purchase firearms or ammunition. The card is valid for 5 years, with no limit on the number of firearms purchased. State law does not provide for concealed firearm permits. |
| Indiana |
Indiana does not require a permit to purchase firearms. A handgun license is required for personal protection (carrying), hunting, and target shooting. |
| Iowa |
Iowa requires an annually renewed permit to acquire pistols or revolvers, unless the purchaser holds a valid permit to carry firearms. An unlimited number of handguns can be purchased with either permit. |
| Kansas |
A permit is not required to purchase a firearm. State law does not provide for a permit to carry a concealed firearm. |
| Kentucky |
Kentucky does not require a permit to purchase a firearm. A license is required to carry a concealed firearm. |
| Louisiana |
No permit is needed to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| Maine |
Maine does not require a permit to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed weapon. An offender whose rights have been restored may be issued a possession permit but cannot carry a concealedfirearm. |
| Maryland |
A permit is not required to purchase firearms. A permit issued by the secretary of the Maryland State Police(MP) is required to carry a handgun. |
| Massachusetts |
Two classes of licenses to carry allow, for 4 years, possession of certain types of weapons: Class A, large capacity firearms, rifles, and shotguns; Class B, non-large capacity firearms, and large capacity rifles and shotguns. A firearms identification card allows, unless otherwise prohibited, possession of rifles, shotguns, ammunition, and chemical mace or similar substances. Certain firearm purchases require a permit that is valid for 10 days. |
| Michigan |
Michigan requires a license, which is valid for 10 days, for every purchase of a handgun, unless the purchaser holds a license to carry a concealed handgun. |
| Minnesota |
Minnesota allows its citizens to obtain a transferee permit which is valid for 1 year and can be used to purchase an unlimited number of handguns and assault weapons. A permit to carry is required to possess a concealed firearm and also constitutes a transferee permit. In the alternative, a buyer can undergo a background check for each purchase of an unlimited number of handguns or assault weapons. |
| Mississippi |
A permit is not required to purchase firearms. A license is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| Missouri |
Missouri mandates a permit to acquire which is valid for 30 days and can be used to purchase one handgun. State law does not provide for concealed firearm permits. |
| Montana |
Montana does not require a permit to purchase a firearm. A permit is required to carry a concealed weapon. |
| Nebraska |
The transfer certificate needed to receive a handgun is valid for up to 3 years and can be used for an unlimited number of purchases. State law does not provide for concealed firearm permits. |
| Nevada |
State law does not require a permit to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed firearm. |
| New Hampshire |
No permit is required to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| New Jersey |
State law mandates a permit to purchase a handgun, which is valid for 90 days and may be renewed for an additional 90 days. A firearms purchaser identification card, which is valid until revoked for a violation of law, is require for unlimited long gun purchases. A permit is required to carry a handgun. A license issued by the superior court is required to purchase or possess an assault weapon. |
| New Mexico |
A permit is not required to purchase firearms. State law does not provide for concealed firearm permits. |
| New York |
Each handgun purchased requires a license, issued by a designated county or city judicial or law enforcement officer, which specifies conditions for possession and carrying. A license is valid throughout the State, except in New York City, where additional rules of validity apply. Licenses are valid until revoked but have a fixed duration in New York City (3 years) and in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties (5 years). Purchasing additional handguns requires a license amendment. |
| North Carolina |
North Carolina requires a permit, valid for 5 years, to purchase a handgun. A separate permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. A person who may possess a machine gun is required to obtain a permit from the county sheriff. |
| North Dakota |
North Dakota does not require a permit to purchase a firearm. A license is required to carry a concealed weapon. |
| Ohio |
A permit is not required to purchase firearms. Ohio law does not provide for concealed firearm permits. A person who is qualified to acquire, possess, carry, or use any automatic or sawed-off firearm or zip-gun must apply to the sheriff of a county or safety director or police chief of a municipality for a license or temporary permit. |
| Oklahoma |
No permit is required to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| Oregon |
Oregon does not require a permit to purchase firearms but does require a license to carry a concealed weapon. |
| Pennsylvania |
A permit is not required to buy a firearm. A license is required to carry a firearm concealed. |
| Puerto Rico |
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico requires a license to purchase or carry a firearm. |
| Rhode Island |
Rhode Island does not require a permit to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. A person under 18 years of age must have a permit to participate in legal firearm activities. |
| South Carolina |
No permit is required to purchase firearms. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) issues concealed handgun permits and special licenses required for possession, transportation or sale of machine guns. |
| South Dakota |
A permit is not required to purchase a firearm. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. An application (see below) is required to purchase a pistol if the purchaser does not have a permit to carry a concealed handgun. |
| Tennessee |
No permit is required to purchase a firearm. A permit is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| Texas |
No permit is required to purchase firearms. A license is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| US Virgin Islands |
A license is required to possess, transport, or carry a firearm. A purchase coupon is issued to a license applicant when the application is approved. The weapon purchased is brought in to the firearms unit of the Virgin Islands Police Department. Information about the weapon is recorded and listed on the license issued to the applicant. |
| Utah |
Utah does not require a permit to purchase firearms. A permit is required to carry a concealed firearm. |
| Vermont |
State law does not require a permit to purchase or carry firearms. |
| Virginia |
A permit is not required to purchase a firearm. A permit issued by a circuit court is needed to carry a concealed handgun. |
| Washington |
A permit is not required to purchase firearms. A license is required to carry a concealed handgun. An alien lawfully present in the U.S. must obtain a license to possess or carry any firearm. |
| West Virginia |
A permit is not required to purchase firearms. A license is required to carry a concealed handgun. |
| Wisconsin |
A permit is not required to purchase firearms. State law does not provide for concealed firearm permits. |
| Wyoming |
A permit is not required to purchase firearms. A license is required to carry a concealed dangerous weapon. |
