Buying where you live?

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PlayboyPenguin

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I was talking in another thread about what restrictions law abiding citizens face when buying a gun and it occured to me that my attitudes are based on the laws of my state and others probably deal with diferent laws.

I have no problem with the rules we follow in Oregon but I might with laws in other states. I know I do not likethe wait period in Washington. What is it like where you are when buying a gun?

Here in Oregon you can go in and pick out what you want. Fill out a form and then get an instant background check done. Then if you have no current felony record or warrants you can walk out with your purchase in less than 15 minutes. Then you can make an appointment to go down to the Sheriff's office and get a CHL with no hassle at all. Pretty easy here. I am not into military style weapons so I am not sure what restrictions are put on those so I am not sure where I stand on that.
 
In Texas it's the same way for purchasing. Bought a Nork '97 Trench Gun at a gunshow in Texas in January. Took longer to fill out the paperwork than it did to complete the background check. The dealer said it was the fastest approval he'd ever seen. (Guess it pays to be a retired Fed!) Wouldn't have mattered if it were a pistol or an evil black rifle (had my eye on a Socom 14, too).

Getting a CCW is a little more of a hastle -- you have to complete a course and apply to the state. Took me about a month to get mine, several years ago. Didn't bother to renew it, as I'm now covered by the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004. :neener: If I'd have renewed it, tho, wouldn't have had to go thru the instant background check when I bought the Nork.
 
Here in WI we have a two business day (M-F) wait on handguns, and a $10 WI background check on top of NICS.

Otherwise, everything else is just the Federal forms & rules. No purchase or ownership permits. Long guns are as fast as NICS comes back. No restrictions on personal sales other than 18 years old, and you must be a non-felon etc.

Our only truly onerous law is our utter lack of CCW. Not even for the rich, connected, or famous (which is actualy a good thing, at least it's fair....)
 
You gotta' fill out the 4473 if youre buying from a dealer.
If you are buying a pistol revolver from anyone, or any gun from a dealer:
DPS 67C: Application to purchase a firearm http://www.ct.gov/dps/lib/dps/special_licensing_and_firearms/dps-67-c.pdf

DPS-3C (4 each, one to buyer, seller, DPS, Police Chief in Buyers town)
http://www.ct.gov/dps/lib/dps/special_licensing_and_firearms/dps-3-c.pdf

There is a NICS check with the state police. No fee. May take time to get a response, and the system is often down on weekends.

Pistol Permit or hunting license waves long gun waiting period.
No waiting period for handguns, permit required.
 
Pennsylvania and Maryland

I haven't lived in MD for 7 years, but Handguns and "Assualt Rifles" sales were regulated by the State Police. Long Guns thru a 4473 only. There was a 7 day waited on the regulated stuff, and MD has a handgun roster that must approve a handgun for sale, or it won't be available in MD.

In PA only handguns require a State Police form. And the PA State Police has had a defacto handgun registration since about the 20's???? They deny it, but . . . . they know what you have if they run the serial #. I think MD destroyed the records once you were "Not Denied" for purchase. When you were approved in MD, it specifically stated the applicant was not denied.

PA has a great Carry Permit system, except its only locally managed. So we are having a very tough time getting reciprocity with states that require a centralized record keeping system. No training requirement, some get permits as quick as 15 mins if they smile and are police to the Deputy running it. We issue out of state, but you must have your states permit if they issue one. If they are a no issue, then its not required. If its discretionary . . . then you're kinda screwed unless you can get your home state to give one up, or go to a Sheriff that applies that policy "liberally".

Cheap, too. Less than $30 for the permit, and its good for 5 years; longer than my driver's license.
 
In Nevada

Here if you have a CCW (shall issue state), it's make your choice, present your DL and CCW (no background check with CCW), do the 4473, pay up, and out you go. Without CCW it's the background check, the rest is the same.
 
Florida isn't that bad. You can walk in and after you pass the background check and complete the sale walk out with the gun if it is a long gun. However, there is a 3 day waiting period on handguns if you don't have a CCW. As for the CCW, we are a shall issue state and have extremely large reciprocity with other states. Another perk of Florida is that NFA weapons and equipment ownership is allowed with a sheriff or state attorney sign off. It’s my understanding that we can get around this signature by establishing a trust which acts like a private corporation that NFA weapons and equipment can be registered to. Overall I give Florida an A-.
 
California is pretty horrible...

To buy a new handgun we must first see if its on the DOJ's approved list. Next we must have a HSC (Handgun saety certificate) to purchase a handgun. Once we find the gun we want to buy, we fill out the 4473. We must show our CA Drivers License along with proof of residency (utility bill, car registration). We get hit with a nasty tax as well, then fill a form whether we have a safe to not. If not we have to buy a approved handgun/rifle lock.

Wait 10 days, perform handgun safety demonstration.

Blah.... :rolleyes:
 
With a CPL in Washington, there's no wait but you do have to fill out a 4473 and go through NICS. You can walk out the door with your purchase as soon as the phone call gives the okay.

Without a CPL, there's a waiting period, but I don't remember how long it is.

Getting your CPL takes ~$50, fingerprints, and a longish period (6 weeks??) of waiting for the prints to come back from the FBI folks. No tests, no training requirement. Good for 5 years at a time, no waiting on renewals.

pax
 
California is pretty horrible...
Click to expand...

Black Majik is correct on all counts. In addition, even if you possess a C&R License (which is a freakin' Type 03 FFL issued to you from the ATF!), you cannot receive C&R handguns at your home. However, C&R handguns are exempt from being on the California DoJ approved list, so they are obtainable. You just have to purchase them the same way as you would an "approved" handgun: ten-day wait, 4473, NICS, safety certificate, safety demonstration, gun-safe or lock, etc.

Also, you can only purchase one handgun a month (private party transfers exempt). I know a guy who has three handguns backlogged in that he has already paid for them but must wait a month to pick up one, another month for the second one, and a third month before he can pick up the last one.
 
IOWA

Purchasing

Longguns
They run a NICS check, you pay for gun and your on your way. You can bypass the NICS check with either a Permit to Purchase Pistols or a Permit to Carry Weapons.

Pistols
You are required to have a Permit to Purchase Pistols or a Permit to Carry Weapons. With these permits you can buy any pistol. No NICS check is required with this permit. Pay for your gun and leave.

Permits

Permit to Purchase
Simple to get. Fill out paperwork at sheriffs office - there is a 3 day wait then you can pick up your permit. Cost is $5

Permit to Carry Weapons
Varies from county to county at the sheriffs discretion. Some sheriffs hand them out freely and love to see people carrying guns. Some sheriffs make California look CCW friendly. If your sheriff will issue one you simply take a class, fill out the paperwork, wait 3 days and your good to go. Cost is $10 per year. Renewal is $5. Some counties have a range requirement, others dont - it varies. They sheriff can restrict your permit as he sees fit. Some sheriffs will put restrictions like "only valid while hunting" or "only valid for .22cal" - mine is restricted to handguns only. Apparently this was the sheriffs response to many poachers driving around with loaded rifles.
 
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Virginia is pretty straight forward. Pick out the gun you want, fill out the fed and state paperwork, pay two bucks extra for the background check, and pay the nice man or lady and walk out. For some reason, I suspect because I have a rather common name, my background check seems to take longer than a lot of people. My wife gets her's approved almost instantly so I usually let her fill out the paperwork. She likes that. They're HER guns then. :D

We have to have a background check even with a CHP, but we're exempted from the "one handgun a month" law with it. There are no restrictions on private sales that I know of. There might be some local laws, but I've never heard of them. You got a gun to sell, I want to buy it. I give you the money, You give me the gun. It's a good idea I suppose to keep some kind of written records for your own use, but that's all.

CHP is "shall issue." Show some kind of prior firearms training. NRA safety course, military, police, security guard training, hunter safety course, etc., fill out the paperwork, fingerprints (not kept on file I understand) pay the fee. You get a letter in my case three weeks later to come to the courthouse to pick up your permit. My county even laminated it in plastic. You do have to have some kind of picture ID, drivers liscense is the most common of course, on you at the same time. There are no pictures on the permit.

Open carry is legal here.
 
In CT, if you have your permit, you pick out your pistol, fill out the ATF form, present your CCW permit and DL, they call the state or use the electronic system to get an authorization number then your done. If the dealer does not have to call, it's a quick process <10 min if the electronic system is down...all bets are off. My last purchase took 20min waiting for the state authorization number. :rolleyes: Wwithout a hunting license or CCW permit, a long gun takes ~2weeks. BTW, can't purchase a pistol here without a CCW permit.
 
Restrictions

Form 4473 is federal paperwork. Answer any one of the questions wrong, and you don't get your gun. Lie about anything, and you're subject to a 10,000 dollar fine and a 5-year, expense-paid vacation at Club Fed if it's discovered. What isn't commonly known is that if you lie on the 4473, and the phone call for the background check shows that you knowingly made a fraudulent attempt to buy a gun, you're subject to prosecution for that attempt...even though you didn't leave with the gun. If you were successful, and it's discovered later, you'll get a visit...not a phone call.
If you're in possession of a firearm having been legally barred from owning one, you're busted for two federal firearms violations...though the state
may assume jurisdiction on the possession, and let the feds prosecute for
the 4473 issue.
 
TN - Fill out a 4473,go through NICS, pay for handgun/rifle/shotgun and $10 NICS fee, walk out the door with your purchase as soon as the phone call gives the okay.
 
Maine

Just did an FFL transfer last week.

Fill out FFL (3 min.)....dealer called it in (5min.) and approval came 30 sec. after he rattled off the info. In and out in 20 min. (we shot the breeze and looked as some grips)

If your in Southern Maine and don't mind a drive in the country (make sure you print out those map. quest directions and bring your gazeteer), talk to Frank at Fort Ridge Trading Post in Shapleigh, (207) 324-4821. He's a straight shooter.

Even if you include the drive (which is quite scenic), you'll spend more time waiting in line, just to be frustrated by a clueless teenager at KTP....IMHO.

But to their credit.....Kittery Trading Post has a HUGE shooting sports department......must have 8 to 10,000 s.f. of floor space dedicated just to shooting sports.
 
Hooboy..

in Hawaii we make things as complicated as possible. For all handgun purchases:

1. Obtain safety training. This can be the state sponsored hunter ed course (which involves zero gun handling or firing) or a private safety course (this involves 4 hours of classroom, including a section on Hawaii laws, and 2 hours on the range doing live fire). Get notorized affidavit stating you've received this training.

2. Find a gun to purchase, either from a gun shop (5 on island) or a private individual.

3. Make whatever financial arrangements needed with the seller. In the gunshops this usually means payment in full. With private individuals it would be negotiable. If from a gun shop do the 4473 thingy. Seller retains the firearm during the next phase.

4. Take gun info (make, model, caliber, action type, barrel length), your affidavit of training, your governmental picture id, your doctors name/ address/phone number, and $24 if it is your first time, down to the main police station during normal work hours (7:30 to 4:30, M-F). The main police station is of course situated in a high density traffic area with minimal parking (paid parking of course).

5. Fill out some forms. Your permit with the firearm information and your basic demographics (name, address, place of birth, occupation, employer, etc). A release for the state department of mental health to release any information about contacts you've had with a mental health professional. A release for your doctor to have a chance to block your ability to acquire a firearm. A basic questionaire that pretty much mirrors the questions on the 4473. If it is your first time, a fingerprint card. Give the nice police officer the $24 and they fingerprint you and take your picture (only the first time).

6. Go away for at least 14 days but not more than 20 days. You can't pick up the permit until 2 weeks has passed but if you don't pick it up by the 20th day you have to start over. Pick up your permit to acquire.

7. Take permit to seller. Sign in various places.

8. Take permit and firearm back down to the main police station in the next 5 days. Pass safed gun to officers to verify serial number, make, model and barrel length.

9. Sign registration paperwork.

10. Leave, safe in the knowledge that all criminally minded individuals will always follow all these steps just like the law abiding.

11. Do this for every single handgun you purchase. For long guns you fill out the paperwork and picture thing once a year and then you can purchase any number of long guns. You can take the long guns with you after filling out the federal paperwork at the store. Then just take your permit and the gun down to register.

migoi
 
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Georgia is pretty basic. You go to store, pick out weapon, fill out paperwork, get approved, hand money over, leave with weapon. Nothing more, nothing less. It IS my understanding that a CCW doesn't get you out of the background check any longer like it once did.

As for CCWs, I haven't gone through it just yet, but will soon. A buddy just got a new one and I can pass along what he said. You basically just go down to the Sheriff's office, fill out a form, hand them $40 (I think), get fingerprinted to make sure you aren't really a serial cow molestor or something, and then you go home and wait for your permit. I don't remember the wait though.

If anyone else from GA has more specific info on the CCW, I'd appreciate hearing it :D

Tom
 
Ohio, for the most part, just follows the federal requirements and there is no charge for the background check. Some cities have restrictions beyond the State and federal requirements.

No paper work is required for private FTF sales, even at gun shows.

CCW is pretty straight forward. There is a training course required, and local county LE approval required.
 
Wow, migoi, never knew Hawaii was that bad!

Dunno which is worse, CA or HI for handguns. Does HI have an "approved list" of handguns that can be sold or a "one a month" limit? I'd go nuts if I had to make multiple trips to the LA sheriff's office over the course of a handgun buy:banghead:

Hawaii and California sound like the worst states for buying guns so far. Anybody from New York? New Jersey? Washington DC:neener: ?
 
The best is a C&R transfer. Doing one of those, I can be in and out of the shop with gun in hand less than 5 minutes later.


MA is funny. Getting your CCW is a pain, but once you have it buying is easy. You can do it in less than 15 minutes usually, as long as they get through to NICS right away.
 
Alabama purchase

Fill out the 4473, process the NICS, if approved deploy money, leave with the firearm. Personally though, I sometimes get a "delay" from NICS that I think is due to a misdemeanor "youthful indescretion" in 1973. However, that same event did not prevent me getting a carry permit. I wish the permit would allow me to bypass NICS but it doesn't. So, on the occasions I have been delayed I just wait the 3 days and then complete the transaction.
 
NY isn't bad for rifles and shotguns, just a federal NICS check (NYC is another story). No waiting periods or limits, but you can't have a semi-auto rifle with a detachable magazine that has two or more evil features (bayonet lug, pistol grip, etc). That hasn't affected me, as the most tactical rifle I have is an M1 Garand.

Pistols are much harder to get because you must be licensed for each specific one. The application for a license to possess a pistol/revolver requires a certified safety course and 4 people to attest to your moral character. Unfortunately for me, these 4 people must reside in the county in which you reside in, and I recently moved to the suburbs and don't know anybody where I live. Sigh. Mind you, this is just for a license to *possess* a handgun. CCW is a whole 'nother can of worms.

NY allows its localities to have their own firearms laws to some degree, so it's different wherever you go. In Westchester County, I currently can not even touch a handgun that I'm not specifically licensed to use, including while I'm taking the mandatory safety course. I would be committing a felony if I even held a friend's unloaded pistol.
 
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