How strict are gun laws in the United States?

Varies by region

Firearm laws vary significantly by state, with some requiring permits and others allowing permitless carry.

The United States is one of 1 country classified “Varies by region” for civilian gun ownership — 0% of the 202 with data. (Also searched as firearm laws.)

Source

Taken from: Wikipedia: Overview of gun laws by nation
Last checked: 17 September 2026
How it was classified: Classified by a language model from the source text, then checked against hand-verified reference countries.

State by state

Alabama: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Alaska: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Arizona: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Arkansas: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
California: Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase (partial), firearm registration, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales, a red flag law and a waiting period.
Colorado: Restrictive State law requires or includes magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales, a red flag law and a waiting period.
Connecticut: Restrictive State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration (partial), an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
Delaware: Restrictive State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
District of Columbia: Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, an owner licence, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales, a red flag law and a waiting period.
Florida: Permissive State law requires or includes a red flag law and a waiting period.
Georgia: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Hawaii: Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
Idaho: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Illinois: Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration (partial), an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, an owner licence, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales, a red flag law and a waiting period.
Indiana: Permissive State law requires or includes a red flag law.
Iowa: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Kansas: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Kentucky: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Louisiana: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Maine: Permissive State law requires or includes a red flag law.
Maryland: Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
Massachusetts: Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, an owner licence, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
Michigan: Licensed / moderate State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration, a permit for concealed carry and background checks on private sales.
Minnesota: Licensed / moderate State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, an assault weapons ban, a permit for concealed carry and background checks on private sales.
Mississippi: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Missouri: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Montana: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Nebraska: Permissive State law requires or includes a permit to purchase and background checks on private sales.
Nevada: Licensed / moderate State law requires or includes a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
New Hampshire: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
New Jersey: Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
New Mexico: Licensed / moderate State law requires or includes a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
New York: Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, an owner licence, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
North Carolina: Permissive State law requires or includes a permit for concealed carry.
North Dakota: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Ohio: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Oklahoma: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Oregon: Licensed / moderate State law requires or includes a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
Pennsylvania: Permissive State law requires or includes a permit for concealed carry and background checks on private sales.
Rhode Island: Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales, a red flag law and a waiting period.
South Carolina: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
South Dakota: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Tennessee: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Texas: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Utah: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Vermont: Licensed / moderate State law requires or includes magazine capacity limits, background checks on private sales, a red flag law and a waiting period.
Virginia: Licensed / moderate State law requires or includes an assault weapons ban, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
Washington: Restrictive State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration (partial), an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
West Virginia: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.
Wisconsin: Permissive State law requires or includes a permit for concealed carry.
Wyoming: Permissive No permit to purchase, registration, carry permit or private-sale background checks are required.

Nearby countries

Bahamas: Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
Mexico: Licensed / moderate Mexico permits one handgun for home defense and long guns for sport, hunting, or collecting.
Canada: Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
Cuba: Licensed / moderate Handguns can be licensed for sport, hunting or collecting, but personal protection alone is not a sufficient reason.
Cayman Islands: Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
Belize: Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.

Other laws in United States

Death Penalty: Retained / in use
School Corporal Punishment: Varies by region
Military Conscription: No conscription
Jury Trials: Jury trials used

Every law in the United States → · How strict are gun laws around the world? →

A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.