Which states require background checks and/or permits to purchase handguns?
22 states have adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Alabama has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Alaska has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Arizona has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Arkansas has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
California has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Colorado has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Connecticut has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase and point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Delaware has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase (for handguns) and point-of-sale (for all guns)
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Florida has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Georgia has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Hawaii has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Idaho has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Illinois has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase and point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Indiana has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Iowa has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Kansas has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Kentucky has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Louisiana has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Maine has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) sold at a gun show or as a result of an advertisement
- When is the background check performed?
- Point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Maryland has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase (for handguns) and point-of-sale (for all guns)
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Massachusetts has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Michigan has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Minnesota has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- Handguns and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase or point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Mississippi has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Missouri has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Montana has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Nebraska has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- Handguns only
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Nevada has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
New Hampshire has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
New Jersey has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase and point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
New Mexico has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
New York has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase (for handguns and semiautomatic rifles) and point-of-sale (for all guns)
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
North Carolina has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
North Dakota has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Ohio has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Oklahoma has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Oregon has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Permit to purchase and point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Pennsylvania has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- Handguns only
- When is the background check performed?
- Point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Rhode Island has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
South Carolina has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
South Dakota has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Tennessee has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Texas has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Utah has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Vermont has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Virginia has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Washington has adopted this policy
- Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
- All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
- When is the background check performed?
- Point-of-sale
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
West Virginia has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Wisconsin has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
Wyoming has not adopted this policy
Background Check and/or Purchase Permit
| Policy adopted? | Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases? | When is the background check performed? |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | — | — |
| Alaska | — | — |
| Arizona | — | — |
| Arkansas | — | — |
| California | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Point-of-sale |
| Colorado | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Point-of-sale |
| Connecticut | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Permit to purchase and point-of-sale |
| Delaware | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Permit to purchase (for handguns) and point-of-sale (for all guns) |
| Florida | — | — |
| Georgia | — | — |
| Hawaii | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Permit to purchase |
| Idaho | — | — |
| Illinois | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Permit to purchase and point-of-sale |
| Indiana | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — |
| Kentucky | — | — |
| Louisiana | — | — |
| Maine | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) sold at a gun show or as a result of an advertisement | Point-of-sale |
| Maryland | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Permit to purchase (for handguns) and point-of-sale (for all guns) |
| Massachusetts | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Permit to purchase |
| Michigan | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Permit to purchase |
| Minnesota | Handguns and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons | Permit to purchase or point-of-sale |
| Mississippi | — | — |
| Missouri | — | — |
| Montana | — | — |
| Nebraska | Handguns only | Permit to purchase |
| Nevada | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Point-of-sale |
| New Hampshire | — | — |
| New Jersey | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Permit to purchase and point-of-sale |
| New Mexico | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Point-of-sale |
| New York | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Permit to purchase (for handguns and semiautomatic rifles) and point-of-sale (for all guns) |
| North Carolina | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — |
| Ohio | — | — |
| Oklahoma | — | — |
| Oregon | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Permit to purchase and point-of-sale |
| Pennsylvania | Handguns only | Point-of-sale |
| Rhode Island | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Point-of-sale |
| South Carolina | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — |
| Tennessee | — | — |
| Texas | — | — |
| Utah | — | — |
| Vermont | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Point-of-sale |
| Virginia | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Point-of-sale |
| Washington | All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) | Point-of-sale |
| West Virginia | — | — |
| Wisconsin | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — |
Show Citations and Footnotes
Source: Cal. Penal Code §§ 27540, 28220; Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-112; Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-33(c), 29-37a(d); Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, §§ 1448B(a), 1448D; Haw. Rev. Stat. §§134-1, 134-2(a); 430 Ill. Comp. Stat. §§ 65/2, 65/3; 15 MRSA § 395; Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety §§ 5-124(a), 5-101(r), 5-204.1; Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, §§ 121F, 128, 129B, 131; Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 28.422(a), 28.421(i); Minn. Stat. §§ 624.7131 - 624.7134, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 69-2403; Nev. Rev. Stat. §§ 202.2544—202.2549; N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:58-3(a), (b); S.B. 8, 54th Leg., First Session (N.M. 2019); N.Y. Penal Law § 400.00(4); N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 898(1); Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 166.412(1)(c), 166.435; 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6111(c), (f)(2); 11 R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-47-35(a)(2), 11-47-35.2(b); Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 13, § 4019; Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-308.2:5; Wash. Rev. Code § 9.41.113. Homicide: Michael Siegel and Claire Boine, What Are the Most Effective Policies in Reducing Gun Homicides? Albany, NY: Rockefeller Institute of Government, March 2019. https://bit.ly/2YPAz7P. Suicide: Eric W. Fleegler, Lois K. Lee, Michael C. Monuteaux, David Hemenway, and Rebekah Mannix, “Firearm Legislation and Firearm-Related Fatalities in the United States,” JAMA Internal Medicine 173,no. 9 (2013): 732-740. Trafficking: Daniel W. Webster, Jon S. Vernick, and Maria T. Bulzacchelli, “Effects of State-Level Firearm Seller Accountability Policies on Firearm Trafficking,” Journal of Urban Health 86, no. 4 (July 2009): 525–537.