US Gun Laws by State: Simple and Factual
Are you one of the 44% of the US population that is a gun owner? Do you want to increase your knowledge of gun laws?
One of the most important factors of being a gun owner is to know gun laws. Yet, the tricky part is that not all states practice the same gun laws. If you’re carrying a gun in the US and move a lot, the regulations can be confusing.
We want to make it easier for you to carry, transport, and use your gun, so here are the various gun laws by state.
1. Strictest Gun Laws by State
California has the strictest gun laws, with the seventh-lowest death rate by gun violence. It has strict regulations on who can buy a gun and what kind of gun they can buy.
The other states with strict gun laws include:
- Illinois
- Connecticut
- New Jersey
- New York
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
Personal protection and hunting are the top reasons people want guns. But due to gun violence, several US states had to tighten their gun laws.
Many states in the US mandate buyers to undergo background checks and a waiting period before purchasing a gun. In states like Massachusetts, you need a permit from the local police department to buy a gun.
2. Least Strict Gun Control Laws by State
Many states want to enact legislation to promote gun safety. Yet, other states are more lenient with their gun laws, including:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
The ironic thing is that they are the go-to place to buy guns for residents from neighboring states. The states of these residents usually have strict gun laws.
3. Gun Storage Laws by State
Many gun laws by state encourage the safe storage of guns. One reason is that easy-to-access guns often have ties to higher gun-related incidents. Children and non-qualified individuals can easily access guns that are not stored properly.
Massachusetts is the only state where you need to put all firearms in a locking storage place. California, Connecticut, and New York also have gun locking obligations in certain situations.
If you’re from Georgia, you can visit Concealed Coalition to learn more about gun storage and the different gun laws in the state.
4. Gun Transportation Laws by State
Anybody can transport a gun or firearm for legal purposes. Transportation includes bringing a firearm across state lines. It’s federal law, and it can gloss over state-by-state gun carry laws.
However, some states treat these federal terms as an “affirmative defense.” Also, this protection only applies when the gun is not readily accessible to the traveler. The gun can be ready and accessible during a hotel stay.
The states included here are Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the US Virgin Islands. If you’re visiting these states and will be bringing your gun, make sure you’re familiar with these regulations.
Be More Familiar With The Different Gun Laws by State
You don’t need to memorize all the gun laws by state by heart cause it’s not practical if you don’t travel much. The best you can do as a responsible gun owner is to research before traveling.
Visit our other guides now if you enjoyed reading about state-by-state gun laws.
