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Which states block gun sales to buyers who pose a danger?

8 states have adopted this policy

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Alabama has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Alaska has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Arizona has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Arkansas has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

California has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Colorado has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Connecticut has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Delaware has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Florida has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Georgia has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Hawaii has adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Idaho has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Illinois has adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Indiana has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Iowa has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Kansas has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Kentucky has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Louisiana has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Maine has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Maryland has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Massachusetts has adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Michigan has adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Minnesota has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Mississippi has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Missouri has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Montana has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Nebraska has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Nevada has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

New Hampshire has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

New Jersey has adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

New Mexico has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

New York has adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

North Carolina has adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

North Dakota has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Ohio has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Oregon has adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Rhode Island has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

South Carolina has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

South Dakota has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Tennessee has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Texas has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Utah has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Vermont has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Virginia has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Washington has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

West Virginia has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Wisconsin has not adopted this policy

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Wyoming has not adopted this policy

What It Does

While many states have strong protections for gun sales—such as background checks and permitting, along with prohibitions for people with violent criminal records—a smaller group of 7 states allows officials to deny purchases if they determine a person poses a danger to themselves or others. This intervention is similar to Extreme Risk orders and can prevent a person at high risk from getting armed in the first place—for example, after repeated suicide threats or domestic violence incidents. A full discussion on who should be prohibited is here. 

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Policy adopted?
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
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
Show Citations and Footnotes 
Source: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 134-2(d); 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. §§ 65/8(f), 65/1.1; Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 129B(1-½)(a), (d), 131(d); Mich. Comp. Laws § 28.422(3); N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58-3(c), (e); N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(1)(b), (n); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-404(a)(2).

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