Waiting Periods

What is the problem?

A waiting period law requires a certain number of days to pass between the purchase of a gun and when the buyer can actually take possession of that gun. This creates a buffer between someone having a suicidal crisis and access to a gun.

Creating a buffer between someone having a suicidal crisis and access to a gun can be the difference between life and death. Waiting period laws require gun buyers to wait until a certain period of time has passed before they are able to access a gun they have purchased.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to chat with a counselor from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress anywhere in the US.

Which states require a waiting period before gun purchases?

9 states have adopted this policy

When someone is considering suicide, days matter—and waiting periods can save lives.

Guns are by far the most lethal method of commonly-used methods of self-harm, with a fatality rate of about 90%. By contrast, less than 4% of people who attempt suicide using other methods will die, and the vast majority of people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to die by suicide. Although guns are used in less than 6% of suicide attempts, more than half of suicide deaths are by gun. In a study of statewide suicide rate changes between 2013 and 2014, states with waiting periods saw a decrease in suicide rates, while those without waiting period laws had an increase.

Unlike the Charleston Loophole, which affects gun buyers whose records require further investigation to determine if they are prohibited, a waiting period applies to all gun buyers. This provides a “cooling off” period for the people who might reconsider their intentions in the interim.

Suicide is inevitable.

Suicide can be prevented. In fact, the vast majority of people who survive a suicide attempt do not go on to die by suicide. Most people who attempt suicide do not die—unless they use a gun. Across all suicide attempts not involving a firearm, 4% will result in death. But for gun suicides, those statistics are flipped: about 90% of gun suicide attempts end in death.

Featured Resources

Firearm Suicide By Congressional District

There are 52 firearm suicides on average per congressional district each year, yet there is district-level variation across the country.

Report

Gun Law Navigator

The Gun Law Navigator is the largest historical database of modern U.S. gun laws.

Data Tracker

Waiting Periods

Gun Suicide in Cities: The Lesser-Known Side of City Gun Violence

Rates of people who die by gun suicide in cities are on the rise, but, until now, a dearth of city-level data leaves it often overlooked.

Report

Visual of a bridge juxtaposed over a map with dots on it

The Rise of Firearm Suicide Among Young Americans

Firearm suicide is having a devastating impact on American youth, particularly during COVID-19. But suicide can be prevented.

Report

Business As Usual

History of a Loophole Americans suffer from an extraordinary rate of gun violence, 20 times higher than nations with comparable levels of economic development…

Report

Waiting Periods

What is the problem?

Which states require a waiting period before gun purchases?

9 states have adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Alabama has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Alaska has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Arizona has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Arkansas has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

California has adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Colorado has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Connecticut has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Delaware has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Florida has adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Georgia has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Hawaii has adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Idaho has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Illinois has adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Indiana has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Iowa has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Kansas has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Kentucky has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Louisiana has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Maine has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Maryland has adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Massachusetts has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Michigan has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Minnesota has adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Mississippi has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Missouri has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Montana has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Nebraska has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Nevada has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

New Hampshire has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

New Jersey has adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

New Mexico has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

New York has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

North Carolina has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

North Dakota has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Ohio has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Oregon has not adopted this policy

Waiting Periods

Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy