Published On August 25, 2021 18:34 IST
As detailed in the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA)[1], citizens and legal residents who wish to purchase rifles, shotguns, or ammunition need to be at least 18 years of age. This Act regulates firearms at the federal level. Any individual who wishes to purchase other firearms, such as handguns, can only do so if they are 21 years of age or older.
State or local officials do have the authority to implement higher age restrictions, but they are not permitted to lower the minimum age as per the federal laws.
Restrictions on Possessing or Purchasing Firearms?
People who are considered to be a danger to society, fugitives or individuals with a criminal record, and patients who were involuntarily committed to mental institutions are not permitted to procure any firearms or ammunition.
The law at the federal level also prohibits the sale of guns to individuals who were found to be guilty of possessing or using controlled substances unlawfully within the past year. An example would be the possession or usage of marijuana, though it has been legalized in several states, is still illegal under federal law.
There are also restrictions that are placed on individuals have restraining orders issued against them by courts in order to prevent stalking, harassment, or threatening. In addition to that, people who have dishonorably discharged military personnel, unauthorized migrants, renounced their citizenship, and people who are visiting the US temporarily on non-immigrant visas such as tourist visas.[2]
Who Regulates Firearms?
The legal basis for the “right of the people to keep and bear arms” is seen in the Second Amendment of the US Constitution.
State Gun Laws[3]
Each State within the United States has their own gun laws. These will be outlined below.
- Washington
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 24: “The right of an individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”
State’s that Recognize Washington’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | North Dakota | South Dakota | Iowa |
| Wisconsin | Utah | Arizona | Texas | Oklahoma |
| Kansas | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Alabama |
| Georgia | Tennessee | Kentucky | Indiana | Ohio |
| Michigan | Vermont | Virginia | North Carolina | Alaska |
State’s Permits that Washington Recognizes
| Idaho | Utah | North Dakota | South Dakota | Kansas |
| Oklahoma | Louisiana | Michigan | Ohio | North Carolina |
- Oregon
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 27: “The people shall have the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of themselves and the state, but the military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power.”
State’s that Recognize Oregon’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas |
| Oklahoma | Utah | Arizona | Iowa | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky |
| Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama | Virginia | North Carolina |
| Alaska | Vermont | |||
State’s Permits that Oregon Recognizes – None
- California
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | Yes | Permit to purchase | Yes |
| Registration of firearms | Yes | Registration of firearms | Yes |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State’s that Recognize California’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Wisconsin | Michigan |
| Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky | Tennessee | Mississippi |
| Alabama | North Carolina | Virginia | Vermont | |
State’s Permits that California Recognizes – None
- Alaska
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 19: “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The individual rights to keep and bear arms shall not be denied or infringed by the state or political subdivision of the State.”
State’s that Recognize Alaska’s Permit
| Idaho | Nevada | Arizona | Montana | Wyoming |
| Utah | Colorado | New Mexico | Texas | Oklahoma |
| Kansas | Nebraska | South Dakota | North Dakota | Minnesota |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin |
| Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Kentucky |
| Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida |
| South Carolina | North Carolina | Virginia | West Virginia | Vermont |
| New Hampshire | Maine | |||
State’s Permits that Alaska Recognizes
| Idaho | Nevada | Arizona | Montana | Wyoming |
| Utah | Colorado | New Mexico | Texas | Oklahoma |
| Kansas | Nebraska | South Dakota | North Dakota | Minnesota |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin |
| Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Kentucky |
| Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida |
| South Carolina | North Carolina | Virginia | West Virginia | Massachusetts |
| New Hampshire | Maine | California | Oregon | Washington |
| Illinois | New York | Delaware | Maryland | New Jersey |
| Connecticut | Rhode Island | Hawaii | ||
- Idaho
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 11: “The people have the right to keep and bear arms, which right shall not be abridged; but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to govern the carrying of weapons concealed on the person, nor prevent passage of legislation providing minimum sentences for crimes committed while in possession of a firearm, nor prevent passage of legislation providing penalties for the possession of firearms by a convicted felon, nor prevent the passage of legislation punishing the use of a firearm. No law shall impose licensure, registration or special taxation on the ownership or possession of firearms or ammunition. Nor shall any law permit the confiscation of firearms, except those actually used in the commission of a felony.”
State’s that Recognize Idaho’s Permit
| Washington | Alaska | Nevada | Arizona | Utah |
| Wyoming | Montana | Texas | Oklahoma | Kansas |
| Nebraska | South Dakota | North Dakota | Minnesota | Iowa |
| Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Michigan | Indiana |
| Kentucky | Tennessee | Alabama | Mississippi | Georgia |
| Ohio | West Virginia | Pennsylvania | North Carolina | South Carolina |
| Florida | Maine | Vermont | New Hampshire | |
State’s Permits that Idaho Recognizes – All states.
- Nevada
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 11, Paragraph 1 : « Every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes.”
State’s that Recognize Nevada’s Permit
| Idaho | Utah | Arizona | Montana | Wyoming |
| New Mexico | Texas | Oklahoma | Kansas | Nebraska |
| North Dakota | South Dakota | Minnesota | Iowa | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana |
| Ohio | Kentucky | West Virginia | Virginia | Tennessee |
| North Carolina | Florida | Georgia | Alabama | Vermont |
State’s Permits that Nevada Recognizes
| Idaho | Utah | Arizona | Montana | Wyoming |
| New Mexico | Texas | Oklahoma | Kansas | Nebraska |
| North Dakota | South Dakota | Minnesota | Arkansas | Louisiana |
| Wisconsin | Illinois | Michigan | Mississippi | Ohio |
| Kentucky | West Virginia | Virginia | Tennessee | North Carolina |
| Florida | South Carolina | Massachusetts | ||
- Utah
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 6: “The individual right of the people to keep and bear arms for security and defense of self, family, others, property, or the State as well as for other lawful purposes shall not be infringed; but nothing herein shall prevent the legislature from defining the lawful use of arms.”
State’s that Recognize Utah’s Permit
| Washington | Idaho | Nevada | Arizona | Alaska |
| Montana | Wyoming | Colorado | North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa |
| Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan |
| Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Kentucky | West Virginia |
| Virginia | Tennessee | North Carolina | Georgia | Alabama |
| Mississippi | Florida | Vermont | New Hampshire | |
State’s Permits that Utah Recognizes – All states.
- Arizona
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 2, Section 26: “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the State shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men.”
State’s that Recognize Arizona’s Permit
| Montana | Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Alaska |
| Wyoming | Colorado | New Mexico | North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa |
| Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Tennessee |
| Mississippi | Michigan | Indiana | Kentucky | Alabama |
| Georgia | Ohio | North Carolina | South Carolina | Florida |
| West Virginia | Virginia | Pennsylvania | Vermont | New Hampshire |
| Delaware | ||||
State’s Permits that Arizona Recognizes
| Idaho | Nevada | Alaska | Montana | Wyoming |
| Utah | Colorado | New Mexico | Texas | Oklahoma |
| Kansas | Nebraska | South Dakota | North Dakota | Minnesota |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin |
| Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Kentucky |
| Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida |
| South Carolina | North Carolina | Virginia | West Virginia | Massachusetts |
| New Hampshire | Maine | California | Oregon | Washington |
| Illinois | New York | Delaware | Maryland | New Jersey |
| Connecticut | Rhode Island | Hawaii | ||
- Montana
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 2, Section 12: “The right of any person to keep or bear arms in defense of his own home, person, and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but nothing herein contained shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons.”
State’s that Recognize Montana’s Permit
| Idaho | Utah | Nevada | Arizona | Alaska |
| Wyoming | Colorado | North Dakota | South Dakota | Nebraska |
| Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Kentucky | Tennessee |
| Mississippi | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Alabama |
| Georgia | North Carolina | Florida | West Virginia | Vermont |
State’s Permits that Montana Recognizes – All states except Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Delaware.
- Wyoming
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 24: “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be denied.”
State’s that Recognize Wyoming’s Permit
| Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| Montana | Colorado | New Mexico | North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa |
| Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Tennessee |
| Kentucky | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida |
| Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | North Carolina | South Carolina |
| West Virginia | Virginia | Pennsylvania | Vermont | New Hampshire |
| Maine | ||||
State’s Permits that Wyoming Recognizes
| Montana | Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Arizona |
| Alaska | New Mexico | Colorado | North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa |
| Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan |
| Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky | Virginia | West Virginia |
| Tennessee | North Carolina | South Carolina | Mississippi | Alabama |
| Georgia | Florida | Pennsylvania | New Hampshire | Maine |
- Colorado
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article II, Section 13: “The right of no person to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall be called in question; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons.”
State’s that Recognize Colorado’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Arizona | Wyoming |
| New Mexico | North Dakota | South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas |
| Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas |
| Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio |
| Kentucky | Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia |
| Florida | North Carolina | West Virginia | Virginia | Delaware |
| Pennsylvania | Vermont | New Hampshire | ||
State’s Permits that Colorado Recognizes
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Wyoming | Arizona |
| Alaska | New Mexico | North Dakota | South Dakota | Nebraska |
| Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana |
| Ohio | Pennsylvania | Kentucky | West Virginia | Virginia |
| Tennessee | North Carolina | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia |
| Florida | Delaware | New Hampshire | ||
- New Mexico
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 11, Section 6: “No law shall abridge the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes, but nothing herein shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons. No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms.”
State’s that Recognize New Mexico’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Arizona | Wyoming |
| North Dakota | South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma |
| Texas | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Wisconsin |
| Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky | Tennessee |
| Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida | North Carolina |
| West Virginia | Virginia | Delaware | Pennsylvania | Vermont |
State’s Permits that New Mexico Recognizes
| Idaho | Nevada | Wyoming | Colorado | Arizona |
| Alaska | North Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma |
| Texas | Missouri | Arkansas | Tennessee | Mississippi |
| Florida | South Carolina | North Carolina | Virginia | West Virginia |
| Ohio | Michigan | Delaware | ||
- North Dakota
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 1: “All individuals have certain inalienable rights, among which are to keep and bear arms for the defense of their person, family, property, and the state, and for lawful hunting, recreational, and other lawful purposes, which shall not be infringed.”
State’s that Recognize North Dakota’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah | Wyoming |
| Colorado | New Mexico | South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas |
| Oklahoma | Texas | Minnesota | Iowa | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana |
| Ohio | Kentucky | Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama |
| Georgia | Florida | North Carolina | South Carolina | West Virginia |
| Virginia | Delaware | Pennsylvania | Vermont | New Hampshire |
| Maine | ||||
State’s Permits that North Dakota Recognizes
| Washington | Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah |
| Arizona | Alaska | Wyoming | Colorado | New Mexico |
| South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas |
| Minnesota | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana |
| Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania |
| West Virginia | Virginia | Kentucky | Tennessee | North Carolina |
| South Carolina | Georgia | Florida | Alabama | Mississippi |
| New Hampshire | Maine | |||
- South Dakota
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article VI, Section 24 : “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be denied.”
State’s that Recognize South Dakota’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah | Wyoming |
| Colorado | New Mexico | North Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas |
| Oklahoma | Texas | Minnesota | Iowa | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana |
| Ohio | Kentucky | Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama |
| Georgia | Florida | North Carolina | South Carolina | West Virginia |
| Virginia | Delaware | Pennsylvania | Vermont | Maine |
| New Hampshire | ||||
State’s Permits that South Dakota Recognizes – All states.
- Nebraska
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | Yes |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 1: “All persons have certain rights, among these are the right to keep and bear arms for security or defense of self, family, home, and others, and for lawful common defense, hunting, recreational use, and all other lawful purposes, and such rights shall not be denied or infringed by the state or any subdivision thereof.”
State’s that Recognize Nebraska’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah | Wyoming |
| Colorado | Arizona | New Mexico | North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana |
| Ohio | Kentucky | Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama |
| Florida | North Carolina | West Virginia | Virginia | Vermont |
State’s Permits that Nebraska Recognizes
| Oregon | California | Montana | Idaho | Nevada |
| Wyoming | Utah | Colorado | Arizona | New Mexico |
| Alaska | North Dakota | South Dakota | Kansas | Oklahoma |
| Texas | Minnesota | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas |
| Louisiana | Wisconsin | Illinois | Michigan | Ohio |
| West Virginia | Kentucky | Tennessee | Florida | South Carolina |
| North Carolina | Virginia | New Jersey | Massachusetts | Maine |
- Kansas
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Kansas Bill of Rights Section 4: “The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and: security, but standing armies in time of peace, are dangerous to • liberty, and shall not be tolerated, and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.”
State’s that Recognize Kansas’ Permit
| Washington | Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah |
| Wyoming | Colorado | Arizona | New Mexico | North Dakota |
| South Dakota | Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana |
| Ohio | Kentucky | Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama |
| Florida | North Carolina | South Carolina | Pennsylvania | West Virginia |
| Virginia | Vermont | |||
State’s Permits that Kansas Recognizes – All states.
- Oklahoma
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 2, Section 26: “The right of a citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power, when thereunto legally summoned, shall never be prohibited, but nothing herein contained shall prevent the legislature from regulating the carrying of weapons.”
State’s that Recognize Oklahoma’s Permit
| Washington | Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah |
| Wyoming | Colorado | Arizona | New Mexico | North Dakota |
| South Dakota | Texas | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas |
| Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio |
| Kentucky | Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama | Florida |
| North Carolina | South Carolina | Pennsylvania | West Virginia | Virginia |
| Vermont | Delaware | New Hampshire | Maine | |
State’s Permits that Oklahoma Recognizes – All states.
- Texas
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 23: “Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the State; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime.”
State’s that Recognize Texas’ Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Wyoming | Colorado |
| Arizona | New Mexico | North Dakota | South Dakota | Oklahoma |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin |
| Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky | Tennessee |
| Mississippi | Alabama | Florida | North Carolina | South Carolina |
| Pennsylvania | West Virginia | Virginia | Vermont | Delaware |
State’s Permits that Texas Recognizes – All states except: Oregon, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine.
- Minnesota
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | Yes |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State’s that Recognize Minnesota’s Permit
| Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Arizona | Montana |
| Oklahoma | Kansas | Nebraska | South Dakota | North Dakota |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin |
| Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky | Virginia |
| Tennessee | North Carolina | Alabama | Mississippi | Vermont |
| Alaska | ||||
State’s Permits that Minnesota Recognizes
| Idaho | Nevada | Alaska | New Mexico | North Dakota |
| South Dakota | Kansas | Louisiana | Michigan | Illinois |
| Kentucky | South Carolina | New Jersey | Rhode Island | Delaware |
- Iowa
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | Yes |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 1: “Iowa has no State Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. However, the Iowa Constitution does guarantee certain inalienable rights – among which are ‘defending life’ and ‘protecting property’”
State’s that Recognize Iowa’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Wyoming | Colorado |
| Arizona | North Dakota | South Dakota | Oklahoma | Texas |
| Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan |
| Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky | Tennessee | Mississippi |
| Alabama | Florida | North Carolina | Pennsylvania | West Virginia |
| Virginia | Vermont | New Hampshire | Maine | |
State’s Permits that Iowa Recognizes – All states.
- Missouri
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No permit required |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 23: “That the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms, ammunition, and accessories typical to the normal function of such arms, in defense of his home, person, family and property, or when lawfully summoned in aid of the civil power, shall not be questioned. The rights guaranteed by this section shall be unalienable. Any restriction on these rights shall be subject to strict scrutiny and the state of Missouri shall be obligated to uphold these rights and shall under no circumstances decline to protect against their infringement. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the general assembly from enacting general laws which limit the rights of convicted violent felons or those adjudicated by a court to be a danger to self or others as result of a mental disorder or mental infirmity.”
State’s that Recognize Missouri’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Wyoming | Colorado |
| Arizona | New Mexico | North Dakota | South Dakota | Oklahoma |
| Texas | Iowa | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin |
| Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky | Tennessee |
| Mississippi | Alabama | Florida | North Carolina | Pennsylvania |
| West Virginia | Virginia | Delaware | Vermont | New Hampshire |
| Maine | ||||
State’s Permits that Missouri Recognizes – All states.
- Arkansas
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 2, Section 5: “The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep and bear arms, for their common defense.”
State’s that Recognize Arkansas’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah | Wyoming |
| Colorado | Arizona | New Mexico | North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri | Louisiana |
| Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky |
| Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama | Florida | North Carolina |
| Pennsylvania | West Virginia | Virginia | Delaware | Vermont |
| New Hampshire | Maine | |||
State’s Permits that Arkansas Recognizes – All states.
- Louisiana
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 11: “The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged, but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to prohibit the carrying of weapons concealed on the person.”
State’s that Recognize Louisiana’s Permit
| Washington | Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah |
| Wyoming | Colorado | Arizona | North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri | Louisiana |
| Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky |
| Tennessee | Alabama | Florida | North Carolina | South Carolina |
| Pennsylvania | West Virginia | Virginia | Vermont | New Hampshire |
| Maine | ||||
State’s Permits that Louisiana Recognizes
| Washington | Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah |
| Wyoming | Colorado | Arizona | North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri | Louisiana |
| Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky |
| Tennessee | Alabama | Florida | North Carolina | South Carolina |
| Pennsylvania | West Virginia | Virginia | Maine | New Hampshire |
- Wisconsin
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 25: “The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose.”
State’s that Recognize Wisconsin’s Permit
| Alaska | Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Arizona |
| Montana | Wyoming | Colorado | North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Iowa | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Louisiana | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio |
| Pennsylvania | Kentucky | West Virginia | Virginia | Tennessee |
| North Carolina | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Alaska |
| Vermont | ||||
State’s Permits that Wisconsin Recognizes – All states except, Oregon, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Virginia, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine.
- Illinois
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | FOID Required |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | FOID Required | Licensing of Owners | FOID Required |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | FOID Required |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 22: “Subject only to the police power, the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be fringed.”
State’s that Recognize Illinois’ Permit
| Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| Montana | South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma |
| Minnesota | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Wisconsin |
| Mississippi | Alabama | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio |
| Kentucky | Virginia | Tennessee | North Carolina | Vermont |
State’s Permits that Illinois Recognizes – None
- Mississippi
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 3, Section 12: “The right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but the legislature may regulate or forbid carrying concealed weapons.”
State’s that Recognize Mississippi’s Permit
| Alaska | Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Arizona |
| Montana | Wyoming | Colorado | North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas | Louisiana | Arkansas |
| Missouri | Iowa | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana |
| Ohio | Pennsylvania | Kentucky | West Virginia | Virginia |
| Tennessee | North Carolina | Alabama | Georgia | Florida |
| Vermont | New Hampshire | Maine | ||
State’s Permits that Mississippi Recognizes – All states.
- Michigan
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | Yes |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | Yes |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 6: “Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state.”
State’s that Recognize Michigan’s Permit – All states except Oregon, California, Hawaii, Illinois, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
State’s Permits that Michigan Recognizes – All states.
- Indiana
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 32: “The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State.”
State’s that Recognize Indiana’s Permit
| Idaho | Utah | Arizona | Alaska | Montana |
| Wyoming | Colorado | Texas | Oklahoma | Kansas |
| North Dakota | South Dakota | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas |
| Louisiana | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida |
| Tennessee | North Carolina | Kentucky | Virginia | West Virginia |
| Ohio | Pennsylvania | Wisconsin | Michigan | Vermont |
| New Hampshire | Maine | |||
State’s Permits that Indiana Recognizes – All states.
- Kentucky
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 1, Paragraph 7: “All men are by nature, free and equal, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned:… 7) the right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the state, subject to the power of the general assembly to enact laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons.”
State’s that Recognize Kentucky’s Permit
| Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| Montana | Wyoming | Colorado | Texas | Oklahoma |
| Kansas | North Dakota | South Dakota | Missouri | Arkansas |
| Louisiana | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida |
| Tennessee | North Carolina | Virginia | West Virginia | Ohio |
| Pennsylvania | Wisconsin | Michigan | Vermont | New Hampshire |
| Nebraska | Minnesota | Indiana | ||
State’s Permits that Kentucky Recognizes
| Idaho | Nevada | Arizona | Montana | Wyoming |
| Utah | Colorado | New Mexico | Texas | Oklahoma |
| Kansas | Nebraska | South Dakota | North Dakota | Minnesota |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin |
| Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Alaska |
| Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida |
| South Carolina | North Carolina | Virginia | West Virginia | Massachusetts |
| New Hampshire | Maine | California | Oregon | Washington |
| Illinois | New York | Delaware | Maryland | New Jersey |
| Connecticut | Rhode Island | Hawaii | ||
- Tennessee
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 26: “That the citizens of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.”
State’s that Recognize Tennessee’s Permit – All states except Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Minnesota, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
State’s Permits that Tennessee Recognizes
| Idaho | Nevada | Arizona | Montana | Wyoming |
| Utah | Colorado | New Mexico | Texas | Oklahoma |
| Kansas | Nebraska | South Dakota | North Dakota | Minnesota |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Kentucky |
| Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Alaska |
| Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida |
| South Carolina | North Carolina | Virginia | West Virginia | Massachusetts |
| New Hampshire | Maine | California | Oregon | Washington |
| Illinois | New York | Delaware | Maryland | New Jersey |
| Connecticut | Rhode Island | Hawaii | ||
- Ohio
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 4: “The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be kept up; and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.”
State’s that Recognize Ohio’s Permit – All states except Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Minnesota, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
State’s Permits that Ohio Recognizes – All states.
- West Virginia
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 22: “A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home, and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use.
State’s that Recognize West Virginia’s Permit – All states except Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Minnesota, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and Massachusetts.
State’s Permits that West Virginia Recognizes
| Idaho | Wyoming | Colorado | Utah | Nevada |
| Arizona | Alaska | New Mexico | North Dakota | South Dakota |
| Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa |
| Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan |
| Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Kentucky | Virginia |
| Delaware | Tennessee | North Carolina | South Carolina | Georgia |
| Florida | Alabama | Mississippi | Vermont | |
- Virginia
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 13: “That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.”
State’s that Recognize Virginia’s Permit
| Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| Montana | Wyoming | Colorado | Texas | Oklahoma |
| Kansas | North Dakota | South Dakota | Iowa | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Louisiana | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia |
| Florida | Tennessee | North Carolina | Kentucky | West Virginia |
| Ohio | Michigan | Vermont | New Hampshire | Maine |
| Nebraska | Indiana | |||
State’s Permits that Virginia Recognizes – All states.
- North Carolina
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | Yes |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 30: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, and, as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they shall not be maintained, and the military should be kept under strict subordination to and governed by the civil power. Nothing herein shall justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons or prevent the General Assembly from enacting penal statutes against that practice.”
State’s that Recognize North Carolina’s Permit – All states except Oregon, California, Hawaii, Minnesota, Illinois, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine.
State’s Permits that North Carolina Recognizes – All states.
- South Carolina
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 20: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
State’s that Recognize South Carolina’s Permit
| Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| Montana | Wyoming | Texas | Oklahoma | Kansas |
| North Dakota | South Dakota | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas |
| Louisiana | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida |
| Tennessee | North Carolina | Kentucky | Virginia | West Virginia |
| Ohio | Pennsylvania | Indiana | Michigan | Vermont |
| Minnesota | Wisconsin | Nebraska | New Mexico | |
State’s Permits that South Carolina Recognizes
| Idaho | Wyoming | Arizona | New Mexico | North Dakota |
| South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas |
| Minnesota | Michigan | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana |
| Ohio | Kentucky | West Virginia | Virginia | Tennessee |
| Georgia | Florida | Mississippi | ||
- Georgia
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 1, Paragraph VIII : “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have power to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne.”
State’s that Recognize Georgia’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Wyoming | Utah | Arizona |
| Alaska | Colorado | North Dakota | South Dakota | Kansas |
| Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas |
| Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio |
| Kentucky | Virginia | West Virginia | Tennessee | North Carolina |
| South Carolina | Florida | Alabama | Mississippi | Pennsylvania |
| Delaware | Vermont | New Hampshire | Maine | |
State’s Permits that Georgia Recognizes
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Wyoming | Colorado |
| Arizona | Alaska | North Dakota | South Dakota | Kansas |
| Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas |
| Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio |
| Pennsylvania | Kentucky | West Virginia | Virginia | North Carolina |
| South Carolina | Florida | Alabama | Mississippi | New Hampshire |
| Maine | ||||
- Alabama
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 26: “(a) Every citizen has a fundamental right to bear arms in defense of himself or herself and the state. Any restriction on this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.
(b) No citizen shall be compelled by any international treaty or international law to take an action that prohibits, limits, or otherwise interferes with his or her fundamental right to keep and bear arms in defense of himself or herself and the state, if such treaty or law, or its adoption, violates the United States Constitution.”
State’s that Recognize Alabama’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| Wyoming | Colorado | North Dakota | South Dakota | Kansas |
| Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas |
| Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio |
| Pennsylvania | Kentucky | Virginia | West Virginia | Delaware |
| Tennessee | North Carolina | Mississippi | Georgia | Florida |
| Vermont | New Hampshire | Maine | ||
State’s Permits that Alabama Recognizes
| Idaho | Nevada | Arizona | Montana | Wyoming |
| Utah | Colorado | New Mexico | Texas | Oklahoma |
| Kansas | Nebraska | South Dakota | North Dakota | Minnesota |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Kentucky |
| Michigan | Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Alaska |
| Tennessee | Mississippi | Tennessee | Georgia | Florida |
| South Carolina | North Carolina | Virginia | West Virginia | Massachusetts |
| New Hampshire | Maine | California | Oregon | Washington |
| Illinois | New York | Delaware | Maryland | New Jersey |
| Connecticut | Rhode Island | Hawaii | ||
- Florida
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 8: “(a) The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law. (b) There shall be a mandatory period of three days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, between the purchase and delivery at retail of any handgun. For the purposes of this section, “purchase” means the transfer of money or other valuable consideration to the retailer, and “handgun” means a firearm capable of being carried and used by one hand, such as a pistol or revolver. Holders of a concealed weapon permit as prescribed in Florida law shall not be subject to the provisions of this paragraph. (c) . . . anyone violating the provisions of subsection (b) shall be guilty of a felony. (d) This restriction shall not apply to a trade in of another handgun.”
The legislature of the State of Florida, in a declaration of policy incorporated in its “Weapons and Firearms” statute, recognizes that adult citizens of the state retain their constitutional right to keep and bear firearms for hunting and sporting activities and for defense of self, family, home, and business and as collectibles.”
State’s that Recognize Florida’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Nevada | Arizona |
| Alaska | Wyoming | Colorado | New Mexico | North Dakota |
| South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Iowa |
| Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Michigan | Indiana |
| Ohio | Pennsylvania | Kentucky | West Virginia | Virginia |
| Delaware | Tennessee | North Carolina | South Carolina | Georgia |
| Alabama | Mississippi | Vermont | New Hampshire | Maine |
State’s Permits that Florida Recognizes
| Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah | Arizona |
| Alaska | Wyoming | Colorado | New Mexico | North Dakota |
| South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Michigan |
| Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Vermont | New Hampshire |
| Delaware | Kentucky | West Virginia | Virginia | North Carolina |
| South Carolina | Tennessee | Alabama | Georgia | Mississippi |
- Maryland
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | Yes |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | Yes |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | Yes |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision: Maryland has no constitutional provision granting a “right to bear arms.”
State’s that Recognize Maryland’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| South Dakota | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa |
| Missouri | Arkansas | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana |
| Ohio | Kentucky | Virginia | Tennessee | North Carolina |
| Mississippi | Alabama | Vermont | ||
State’s Permits that Maryland Recognizes – None
- Pennsylvania
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 21: “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.”
State’s that Recognize Pennsylvania’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Wyoming | Colorado | Utah |
| Arizona | Alaska | North Dakota | South Dakota | Kansas |
| Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas |
| Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio |
| Kentucky | West Virginia | Virginia | Tennessee | North Carolina |
| Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida | Vermont |
| New Hampshire | ||||
State’s Permits that Pennsylvania Recognizes
| Idaho | Montana | Wyoming | Colorado | Utah |
| Arizona | Alaska | North Dakota | South Dakota | Kansas |
| Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas |
| Louisiana | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana | Ohio |
| Pennsylvania | New Hampshire | Kentucky | West Virginia | North Carolina |
| Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia | Florida | |
- New Jersey
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | ID Card Required | Permit to purchase | Yes |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | Yes | Licensing of Owners | Yes |
| Permit to carry | ID Card Required | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – No Constitutional Provision on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. However, the New Jersey Constitution, Article 1, Section 1, does guarantee certain “unalienable” rights, including “defending life,” “protecting property,” and “pursuing and obtaining safety.”
State’s that Recognize New Jersey’s Permit
| Alaska | Idaho | Utah | Arizona | Montana |
| Texas | Oklahoma | Kansas | South Dakota | Minnesota |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Mississippi | Alabama |
| Tennessee | North Carolina | Virginia | Kentucky | Indiana |
| Ohio | Michigan | Vermont | ||
State’s Permits that New Jersey Recognizes – None
- New York
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | Yes |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | Yes |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | Yes |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision: None. However, Article 2, Section 4 of the New York Civil Rights Law provides: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms cannot be infringed.”
State’s that Recognize New York’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| South Dakota | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas | Iowa |
| Missouri | Arkansas | Wisconsin | Michigan | Indiana |
| Ohio | Kentucky | Virginia | Tennessee | North Carolina |
| Mississippi | Alabama | Vermont | ||
State’s Permits that New York Recognizes – None
- Connecticut
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | Yes | Permit to purchase | Yes |
| Registration of firearms | Yes | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | Yes | Licensing of Owners | Yes |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 15: “Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.”
State’s that Recognize Connecticut’s Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Wisconsin | Michigan |
| Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky | Virginia | North Carolina |
| Alabama | Mississippi | Vermont | ||
State’s Permits that Connecticut Recognizes – None
- Rhode Island
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 22: “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
State’s that Recognize Rhode Island’s Permit
| Idaho | Nevada | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Minnesota |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Michigan | Indiana |
| Ohio | Kentucky | Virginia | Tennessee | North Carolina |
| Mississippi | Alabama | Vermont | ||
State’s Permits that Rhode Island Recognizes – None
- Massachusetts
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | FID Required | Permit to purchase | Yes |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | Yes | Licensing of Owners | Yes |
| Permit to carry | FID Required | Permit to carry | Yes |
State Constitutional Provision – Declaration of Rights, Article 17: “The people have a right to keep and bear arms for the common defense. And as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the consent of the legislature, and the military power shall always be held in an exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it.”
State’s that Recognize Massachusetts’ Permit
| Idaho | Montana | Nevada | Utah | Arizona |
| Alaska | South Dakota | Kansas | Oklahoma | Texas |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Michigan | Wisconsin |
| Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky | Virginia | North Carolina |
| Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama | Vermont | |
State’s Permits that Massachusetts Recognizes – None
- Vermont
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Chapter 1, Article 16 : “That the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the State as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and that the military should be kept under strict subordination to and governed by the civil power.”
State’s that Recognize Vermont’s Permit – None
State’s Permits that Vermont Recognizes – All
- New Hampshire
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Part 1, Article 2a: “All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property, and the state.”
State’s that Recognize New Hampshire’s Permit
| Idaho | Utah | Arizona | Alaska | Wyoming |
| Colorado | North Dakota | South Dakota | Kansas | Oklahoma |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Michigan |
| Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Kentucky | West Virginia |
| Virginia | Tennessee | North Carolina | Georgia | Alabama |
| Mississippi | Vermont | Maine | Florida | |
State’s Permits that New Hampshire Recognizes
| Idaho | Wyoming | Utah | Colorado | Arizona |
| Alaska | North Dakota | South Dakota | Kansas | Oklahoma |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Michigan |
| Indiana | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Maine | Kentucky |
| West Virginia | Virginia | North Carolina | Tennessee | Mississippi |
| Alabama | Georgia | Florida | ||
- Maine
| Rifles and Shotguns | Handguns | ||
| Permit to purchase | No | Permit to purchase | No |
| Registration of firearms | No | Registration of firearms | No |
| Licensing of owners | No | Licensing of Owners | No |
| Permit to carry | No | Permit to carry | No |
State Constitutional Provision – Article 1, Section 16: “Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned.”
State’s that Recognize Maine’s Permit
| Idaho | Utah | Arizona | Alaska | Wyoming |
| North Dakota | South Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma |
| Iowa | Missouri | Arkansas | Louisiana | Michigan |
| Indiana | Ohio | Kentucky | Virginia | Delaware |
| North Carolina | Tennessee | Mississippi | Alabama | Georgia |
| Florida | Vermont | New Hampshire | ||
State’s Permits that Maine Recognizes
| Idaho | Montana | Utah | Arizona | Alaska |
| North Dakota | Nebraska | Kansas | Oklahoma | Michigan |
| Ohio | New Hampshire | North Carolina | Delaware | Virginia |
| Kentucky | Iowa | Missouri | Louisiana | Mississippi |
| Alabama | Georgia | Florida | ||
- Gun Control Act, 1968 ↑
- “8 facts about gun control in the US”, DW, available at: https://www.dw.com/en/8-facts-about-gun-control-in-the-us/a-40816418. (last visited on August 6, 2021). ↑
- “Guide to the Interstate Transportation of Firearms”, NRA-ILA, available at: https://www.nraila.org/gun-laws/. (last visited on August 23, 2021). ↑