Buying a Gun in Different States
The issue of public safety is one of the things most frequently discussed in the past couple of decades in the United States. Starting with school shooting massacres that have painted a negative picture of America around the world, and including incidents in public places like the Las Vegas massacre in 2017, more and more people are demanding that the gun laws be edited, and a safer environment made for both children and adults. Small steps have been taken in relation to the freedom to obtain a firearm, but those regulations are scarce and inconsistent in different states. So, where can a gun easily be purchased, and where is it a bit more difficult?
Easily purchasing a weapon
Whether you are a weapon and firearm enthusiast, or just a great believer in the Second Amendment, at some point in your life, you might try to purchase one. However, due to the inconsistency of the laws across different states, some states may be more difficult than others to do so. There is no need to worry too much because there are as many as thirty-six states that do not require any kind of special permit, license, or test to buy and own a firearm. Although this allows for the vast majority of firearms across the United States to be unregistered, Some states, however, do pose stricter regulations than others.
States where gun ownership is regulated
Contrary to the majority of states where buying a gun is not subject to almost any regulations, as many as twelve states, including California, New York, Rhode Island, Delaware, Hawaii, and several others, have successfully passed regulations that limit and register the purchase and ownership of firearms.
Most of these have closed the loophole that allowed for unregistered purchase, and require some conditions to be met in order to become the owner of a firearm. Some of these criteria include a background check, which ensures that the potential owner does not have the risk of breaking the law, especially if he/she has a criminal history. In most of these twelve states, it is impossible for a person to purchase a weapon if they have previous firearm-related convictions. Owners, of course, need to be registered, which allows the authorities to track down any crimes committed with that weapon.
What does this mean for potential gun owners?
In a country as big and complex as the United States of America, it may not be very clear how gun control laws work, especially to foreigners. Gun regulations vary from state to state, and people often need special permissions issued in advance if they are traveling out of state. However, each of the states’ individual laws is made to suit the citizens of that particular state and reflect their beliefs. So, if you are moving to a different state, make sure to brush up on their laws beforehand, it might just come in handy!