Firearms law in United States
Last reviewed: 2026-05-06 · editorial review
The United States has the most permissive civilian firearms regime in the developed world. Long-gun purchases require you to be 18; handgun purchases from a licensed dealer require you to be 21. Most state-line transfers must go through a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) who runs the buyer through the FBI’s NICS background check.
Beyond federal law, every state and many cities add their own rules — magazine capacity caps, “assault weapons” bans, waiting periods, registration, permit-to-purchase, suppressors, concealed carry. The state pages cover those.
The National Firearms Act (NFA) regulates a separate tier of items — suppressors, short-barrelled rifles and shotguns, and “machine guns” — through a federal tax stamp ($200) and a longer ATF approval process.
Key laws
- Gun Control Act 1968 (GCA) — created the FFL system, prohibited persons list, and minimum ages.
- National Firearms Act 1934 (NFA) — covers suppressors, SBRs/SBSs, machine guns, AOWs.
- Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act 1993 — federal background-check system (NICS).
- Firearm Owners Protection Act 1986 (FOPA) — protects interstate travel; closed the machine-gun registry.
- State law varies dramatically — see your state page.
Licences in United States
- Federal — no licence required · 18+
- FFL Type 01 — dealer in firearms · 21+
- FFL Type 03 — Curio & Relic · 21+
Licence → what you can own
Quick-glance matrix. Click a licence for the full conditions.
| Licence | Handguns | Rifles and shotguns | Semi-automatic rifle | Suppressor | Fully-automatic firearm | Ammunition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal — no licence required | 21+ from a dealer; some states require permit-to-purchase | 18+ from a dealer | where state permits | $200 NFA tax stamp + ATF Form 4 wait | ✗ | 18+ rifle/shotgun, 21+ handgun ammo from a dealer |
| FFL Type 01 — dealer in firearms | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | with SOT | dealer sample, with SOT | ✓ |
| FFL Type 03 — Curio & Relic | C&R items only (50+ years old) | C&R items only (50+ years old) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Key: ✓ permitted (often with conditions) · ✗ not permitted under this licence · — class is prohibited in United States
State laws
- 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
- District of Columbia
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Always check with your local firearms registry or a lawyer for your specific situation.