With all the talk about the US Senate about to debate "New Gun Control Laws", I became curious how members in other states go about purchasing a firearm.

Only two ways to buy a gun in Massachusetts. You need a LTC to buy any firearm, or a FID card to buy a rifle or shotgun. The LTC class A allows concealed carry, a restricted one allows to keep one at home and for range use only. Once you have your license you can go to your local Gun Store and make your purchase. The process of Federal Background check, forms, state computer and fingerprint match take a total of about 30 minutes, afterwards you take your purchase home, right there and then. A license is needed for the purchase of ammo as well. I will not bore you at this time with all the other restrictions we live with.... Current Assault Weapon ban, magazine round limits, Attorney General restrictions on MANY popular handguns due to trigger pull and safety devices. SO.......Is your life easier than mine?

Yes it is, in Virginia anyway.

^ yeah, as noted, here in Virginia we have no restrictions on type. The only thing that slows the process down is that we have to fill out a second form for the state police. since instant checks run through them rather than the feds.
Oh, and you have to show proof of citizenship if you're buing anything that qualifies as an "assault weapon" but there are no restrictions on them.

Not too difficult in Florida if you have a CWP. Of course coming up with the cash to make the purchase is always the hardest part. Joe

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Behavior Creates Destiny

Pretty simple in Pa there are no restrictions. Fill out 1 piece of paper for a rifle and 2 for a handgun. (Assuming you pass NICS) pay and go. Takes all of 5min.

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Well if I want to buy from an individual like someone I know or read an ad on Craig's List or the local newspaper I pay him and it's done. No papers involved.

If I want to buy a gun at a retail store I fill out a form 4473 and the shop owner calls it in. If I have been a good boy, in about 10 seconds the shop owner gets a "That's One Proceed" and I pay for it with cash or a credit card and take it home.

The only "license" needed is a valid driver's license for identification purposes.

Being a Buckeye does have it's advantages.

In Nebraska, you go to your county sheriff and apply for a Firearms Purchase Certificate. It's $5.00 and lasts three years. Once you have that it's go in and buy whatever you want. A CCW permit can be used in place of the FPC.

I'm in Florida so simple!

They are just growing on trees, just pick the one you want.

The "rules" in a nut shell, 21 for a handgun 18 for a rifle. If you have a CCW you can walk out after background check 4473 with a handgun. No CCW then you wait 3 days for a handgun. No waiting for any rifle or shotgun.

Makes perfect legal sense, you can walk out with a AK or a AR 500 rounds of ammo but must wait 3 days to pick up you 22 lr revolver.

Nothing for ammunition (18 years old for rifle not sure on handgun ammo) been so long or high cap mags.

Guns are back in stock but no ammo or even 22 lr to be found yet. A little here and there.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Here in South Dakota, it's fill out the form, a quick phone call and done. Bought a SD9ve about a month back, took all of bout 10 minutes from the time I walked in until I was out the door with a new firearm!!

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NRA Life member

When I moved from NYC to Texas, a long time ago, the only thing I knew automatically was that the guns I brought with me were all legal and "newly" unregistered. At that time you could walk into a gun shop, plunk down your money (always the hardest part!), fill out a form, & walk out with your purchase. Today, if you have a CHL, in order to buy a gun in Texas, you can walk into a gun shop, plunk down your money (always the hardest part!), fill out a form, & walk out with your purchase. Same same. Some places will copy your TDL and CHL and some won't. Without a CHL the only added factor is waiting for the quick NICS background check phone call. After that it's the same easy procedure.
Regardless of TV and movies, no guns are registered. Carrying concealed on your person requires a CHL. Carrying concealed in your motor vehicle (of any kind) does not. Carrying openly on your own property is fine, too. Carrying openly, otherwise, is restricted to certain legal exceptions - best advice - don't do it.
I didn't move to Texas for the "freedom" - that was just a significant bonus and one of many reasons why I never moved back (I'd have to be crazy!!!).

***GRJ***

I wouldn't swear to it but I think the age limitations on long guns versus handguns are Federal so it's the same everywhere.

***GRJ***

OH IF LIFE COULD BE THAT EASY.....private sales only to someone with a LTC, you get four a year, 7 days to fill out the paper work and send into the State Police. Sell a 5th, you lose your license and go to jail.... I wish all members well with what is about to happen in the Senate, Whatever they do or even propose, is mild to what we live with here. AND THEY PLAN MORE, including mandatory insurance of at least $250,000 on your firearms, in case someone is wrongly injured by your firearm.....The Pilgrims must be rolling over in their graves.

In AZ, we fill out the 4473, show your CCW/DL pay/leave.
No background check.
Be well
tb

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frontsightnsqueaz

To answer the OP's original question, "How do you buy a gun in Massachusetts?"

It's really quite simple when you get right down to it.

There's a place on the east side of town where the old BP gas station used to be. There's a guy that hangs out there with some of his buddies. I don't know his real name, but he goes by the handle "Heavy G." From what I hear, he can get you just about anything you want....for a price. Last I checked, an old Western Auto single-shot .22 was going for about a grand.

Unfortunately, if things continue to go like they seem to be going, this hypothetical example might be the only way a person will be able to obtain a firearm. Sad, isn't it?

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Pack light and cinch tight.

In Oklahoma, the only "laws" we have are the Federal laws. At a dealer, fill out the 4473, pay your money, dealer makes the call, you leave with your new toy. I did it last weekend, and it took five minutes instead of two because the dealer (a friend of mine) did another guy's check with mine, and they wanted to take a second look at me. Guess I'm getting close to my limit.

If my neighbor wanted to sell me his 1911 (I wish he would, but he won't), all I have to do is trade cash for the gun.

Gotta love a free state!

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Works the same in Oregon, for guns. Ammo? You pick out what you want carry it to the cash register and pay, no ID involved. (Unless you pay with plastic. Then maybe.)

Just to quickly add:

No license needed to own a handgun or long gun. Loaded handgun can be carried in the vehicle without a CCL.

No paperwork for private sales, and no limit on number purchased or sold, privately or through dealers.

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Illegitimus Non Carborundum

Alabama is super simple. Fill out 4473, dealer calls it in pay and go. It takes as long as it takes you to fill out the form and have dealer call it in. You do need a form of photo ID just to verify your age, so a drivers lic is sufficient. Nothing needed for ammo purchase other than finding ammo and having the money to pay for it. I think Wally World and some other big box stores require a DL to check on age if buying ammo that may fit a handgun, but none of the LGS I venture to does.

Um, nope....hop over your western border to New Yorkistan and we'll compare notes. You're catching up but Cuomo made sure we were "the most progressive state in the union".

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paws for friendship

Yeah, gotta love Texas, very simple and fast. Plus, every man woman and child over ten years old has a gun, we all just shoot each others .

No paperwork for the buyer but (i think it is Federal) there is the dreaded multiple gun form. If 2 or more handguns are purchased within 5 days the FFL must submit a form the ATF and the Black Helicopters and SUVs then come to your door.

Another example of great Law making. If you buy one gun from dealer A and then go down the street to Dealer B there is no record of a multiple sale so figure that one out.

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Still Running Against the Wind

That's how it is here in WVA-for now. Being a Mountaineer has it's advantages too.

In Kentucky, at a dealer-Fill out the 4473, the dealer calls it in, and then you pay your money and take your gun. If you have a CCW, you can skip the calling it in step.

For a non-dealer sale, pay the money and take the gun.

You people are making all New Yorkers and Massachusetts people very jealous..... Two more legislative proposals from the loons are. You can only buy or rent one gun within a 30 day period. Sale of more than 20 firearms in a year will get you "Life in Prison"...Nice if you or children are selling your collection.

Georgia is also a free state with simple procedures like most of the others listed above.

Just in case it wasn't clear from the OP, the same license you get for firearm ownership (Licence To Carry or FID) is used for the purchase of ammo.

A second license for ammo isn't required.

Some of the things, I'm pleased about among all our heinous restrictions vs SOME other states....

We can carry ANY lawful gun, without specifically calling out or reporting which one or two will be carried.

We can purchase same day, unless the NICS check triggers an alert. Shop and go is the model.

We don't need individual purchase permits in advance for each gun we want to buy.


Of course all of this is subject to change as we rush toward NATIONAL INFRINGEMENTS as a result of Newtown and follow on incidents to come, that will prompt going after 'armor piercing rounds', rifles capable of shooting great distances, etc. etc.

FYI - Hunters in my state have ALREADY accepted the restriction that they can only hunt (with very few exceptions) with shotguns or muzzleloaders. A favorite wish of Ted Kennedy, and still on the leftist agenda, was to ban ALL ammo capable of penetrating a standard police bullet resistant vest.

Stop them now, and clearly establish the principles, or the rights will continue to be eroded with each major new incident perpetrated by the mentally ill.

Tom the 4473 is a background check.

And generally I am surprised by the number of folks here who have to have a concealed carry license or some sort of Firearm ID to purchase a firearm?

Come to Ohio/Kentucky/West Virginia, the weather sucks but for a bunch of Appalachian Hillbillies we're pretty civilized.

NO matter what license you possess, you CAN NOT buy a handgun manufactured by COLT, BERSA, OR KIMBER in Massachusetts, UNLESS the gun was made before 1994. Firearms are limited to what is on the Attorney General's APPROVED firearms list which is updated every 3 months. In fact there are many handguns made by S&W which is located in Springfield, Ma, that you can't buy here either. THAT'S JUST NUTS.

The CCW, in some states, means the FFL doesn't have to call in a check on the 4473. You fill it out, but no call is made, as you have already passed the check in getting your CCW. If you don't have a CCW, you present your Driver's License (for identification purposes) and the NICS call is made. CCW is not required, it just speeds up the process.

Unfortunately, Oklahoma doesn't do this. The Feds decide if your CCW background check is good enough. I guess ours isn't.

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