Handgun purchase in free states

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Bill St. Clair

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In writing a letter to the editor of a despicable NY Times article, I wanted to convey to the disarmed Big Apple readers what they're missing in most of free America, but I haven't lived in free America myself since I started buying my own guns so I don't know.

Here in upstate New York, I walk into a gun store, lay down my driving license, fill out a simple form asserting who I am and that I am not forbidden to own a gun, wait for the sales guy to make the NICS call, hand over my cash, and walk out with my long gun. Handguns are another matter, however. New York state registers all handgun possession, so you have to pay for the gun, take the receipt to the local judge, and ask him nicely to add it to your permit before taking possession.

Is the process of handgun purchase in free states similar to long gun purchase here?

And don't go ranting about NICS. I know. My 12-year-old son should be able to walk into any hardware store in America, lay down cash, and walk out with a fully-automatic M-16 or AK-47 and 1000 rounds of ammo without answering any questions or signing a single scrap of paper. That's what "shall not be infringed" means. But debating the details of that issue is not my intention with this thread.

And if you want to discuss the NYT article, there's already another thread for that.
 
Georgia, if you pass NICS, then it's instant, there is no waiting period, you walk out with the gun (of course, NICS is checked whether you're buying a handgun or a long gun). If you have a Georgia CCW, then there isn't even a NICS background check.
 
Thanks guys. Now I know two states where handguns are similar to long guns. Others?

Also, there are plenty of sites with all sorts of information about concealed carry laws state-to-state. Does anyone know a place to find a summary of open carry laws or this kind of purchase information?
 
Washington state: long guns-NICS check, 4473, money, out the door. Handguns-NICS check, 4473, money, 14 day wait, out the door. Handgun waiting period is waived if you have a CCW.
 
WV-- NICS, pay, go...Only been turned down by NICS about one time out of fifteen or so. Early on. No registration except Fed form, no judge, no jury.

CHL is about 5x8 certificate that you photostatically reduce and laminate(optional). I have about 4 copies in wallet, glove boxes, with employee IDs. Doesn't exempt NICS.
 
Arizona with CCW:
Walk into store
Pick gun
Talk price
Fill out form
Show CCW and Drivers License
Pay
Walk out of store

Arizona without CCW:
Walk into store
Pick gun
Talk price
Fill out form
Show Drivers License and wait for instant background check (5-10 minutes)
Pay
Walk out of store

:D
 
Illinois,

1) Get a FOID ( Firearms Owner IDentification ). Apply to Ill State Police, wait 4-8 weeks get card. Without card it is illeagle to posess guns or ammo.

2) Go into gunstore choose gun put deposit down or pay completely

3) Fill out federal form

4) Phone call to ISP with the FOID number. The ISP has 24 hours to give an answer for rifles/shotguns, 72 hours for handguns

5) Wait 24 hours for rifles/shotguns, 72 hours for handguns before they can be picked up

I am not going to go into the mess in Chicago

NukemJim
 
Is the process of handgun purchase in free states similar to long gun purchase here?
Click to expand...

Yes.

In TN, you do a background check and take your pistol with you.

In GA, you skip the background check if you have a Toter's Permit, or do an instant NICS check otherwise, and take your pistol with you.
 
jimpeel:

I'm not sure about long guns, but hand guns purchased in Colorado are registered with the state at the time of purchase. There used to be a separate form to fill out; now it's handled by the telephone operator who clears the purchase.
 
Standing Wolf

Is that codified in law or just something they do? A lot of good it does them if you move out of state.
 
Delaware (from what I understand):
Pick gun and ask gunstore to order it
Show Driver's license and 2nd form of ID (credit card bill with your mailing address on it will suffice)
Fill out 4473
Wait for NICS check
Pay
Go directly to nearest range to try out new toy.

Maryland:
Pick gun
Pray gun is available to peons
Ask gunstore to find one
Show Driver's License and proof of training when pistol arrives
Fill out 2 state forms, and a 4473
Pay deposit (optional)
Come back in 10 days, sign state forms and 4473 again
Pay remaining balance
Find nearest range and try out new toy

Kharn
 
Nevada: Sounds the same as Arizona, posted above. I show my CCW and DL, fill out form, pay and leave. If you don't have a CCW then you pay extra and wait for the NICS check. The beauty of a CCW is going into a gun store after the NICS is closed and being able to buy a gun. Show, Fill out, pay and leave. Sweeeet. You can also buy two or three if you like. :)
 
PA- show driver's license, fill out federal and state form, dealer runs NICS ( usually takes 5 min or less), if approved sign state form second time, pay, leave with gun and then clean it and shoot it. Sometimes sneaking past wife comes before cleaning it.
 
Nevada:

To expand on what Valkman said, in Las Vegas you fill out an additional form, and your handgun is registered. You recieve a "blue card" which you are required to carry at all times you have the gun to show your masters that the handgun was in fact registered. This applies whether or not you live in Clark County.
The rest of the state as far as I know eliminates this step and the handgun is not registered. I know that is the case here in Pahrump.
You pay, you show CCW + DL and you walk away.
 
Virginia: call the number in the newspaper or Trading Post(a weekly rag) ad. Make arrangements to meet and do the deal.

Now, if it's a gun store purchase you need to wait while they call the State Police number and get the okay. The longest delay I've encountered has been 5 or 10 minutes and that was just once, but I've seen others delayed when the computer, or maybe the phone, was out of order. Having a carry permit doesn't change anything.

John
 
Colorado - private purchase- not at gun shows- hand over the cash, trade, or whatever, take the gun home, handgun or long gun.

Standing Wolf- where did you get the info regarding handgun registration? The only info CBI gets is handgun or long gun. The serial # is not part of the NICS check. I've purchased more than a few new handguns from Denver area dealers, been present while the call is being made, no mention of serial #. I watched the info being input into a dealers computer for the check- no serial #.
 
MA
Must show LTC or FID and drivers license.
You pay.
They call it in and you leave with it.(Assuming it was on the MA approved firearm roster and the AG list. No Springfield pistols, no new Glocks, etc...)
Same for rifles or handguns.
 
In Canada, show dealer your Firearms License, dealer calls Canadian Firearms Centre, Centre asks you a few questions, Centre gives you a TAN (Transfer Authorization Number), write it down, pull out Loonies or plastic, and take gun, long or short, home. It takes 1/2 an hour, if the lines aren't busy.

Bye
Jack
 
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