Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
Wikipedia. 2013 ‘Gun Laws in the United States by State.’ Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. San Francisco, CA: Wikimedia Foundation. 7 October
Relevant contents
State-by-State Analysis of Gun Laws in America:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:United_States_gun_laws_by_state
Gun laws in the United States [US] regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition. State laws vary, and are independent of existing federal firearms laws, although they are sometimes broader or more limited in scope than the federal laws. For instance, some US states have created assault weapon bans that are similar to the expired federal assault weapons ban.
State level laws vary significantly in their form, content, and level of restriction. Forty-four states have a provision in their state constitutions similar to the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. The exceptions are California, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York. In New York, however, the statutory civil rights laws contain a provision virtually identical to the Second Amendment.(1)(2) As well, the Supreme Court of the United States has held that the protections of the Second Amendment apply against state governments and their political subdivisions (such as in McDonald v. Chicago).(3)
Firearm owners are subject to the firearm laws of the state they are in, and not exclusively their state of residence. Reciprocity between states exists in certain situations, such as with regard to concealed carry permits. These are recognized on a state-by-state basis. For example, Idaho recognizes an Oregon permit, but Oregon does not recognize an Idaho permit. Florida issues a license to carry both concealed weapons and firearms, but others license only the concealed carry of firearms. Some states do not recognize out-of-state permits to carry a firearm at all, so it is important to understand the laws of each state when traveling with a handgun.(4)
In many cases, state firearms laws can be considerably less restrictive than federal firearms laws. This does not confer any de jure immunity against prosecution for violations of the federal laws. However, state and local police departments are not legally obligated to enforce federal gun law as per the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Printz v. United States.(5)(6)
Common subjects of state laws
Firearm related matters that are often regulated by state or local laws include the following:
- Some states and localities require that a person obtain a license or permit in order to purchase or possess firearms.
- Some states and localities require that individual firearms be registered with the police or with another law enforcement agency.
- All states allow some form of concealed carry, the carrying of a concealed firearm in public.
- Many states allow some form of open carry, the carrying of an unconcealed firearm in public on one's person or in a vehicle.
- Some states have state preemption for many or all gun laws, which means that only the state can legally regulate firearms. In other states, local governments can pass their own gun laws more restrictive than those of the state.
- Some states and localities place additional restrictions on certain semi-automatic firearms that they have defined as "assault weapons", or on magazines that can hold more than a certain number of rounds of ammunition.
- NFA weapons are weapons that are heavily restricted at a federal level by the National Firearms Act of 1934 [NFA] and the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986. These include automatic firearms (such as machine guns), short-barreled shotguns, and short-barreled rifles. Some states and localities place additional restrictions on such weapons.
- Some states have enacted castle doctrine or "stand your ground" laws, which provide a legal basis for individuals to use deadly force in self-defense in certain situations, without a duty to flee or retreat if possible.
- In some states, peaceable journey laws give additional leeway for the possession of firearms by travelers who are passing through to another destination.
Sources:
1) "State Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms Provisions, UCLA School of Law". University of California, Los Angeles. December 31, 1991. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
2) "New York Civil Rights - Article 2 - § 4 Right to Keep and Bear Arms". Law and Legal Research. March 30, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
3) June 28, 2010 09:09 (June 28, 2010). "Victory for the Second Amendment". Gun Owners of America. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
4) "U.S. Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map on". Usacarry.com. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
5) "Printz v. United States, 521 U.S. 898 (1997)". FindLaw. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
6) "Printz v. United States". Stephen P. Halbrook. Retrieved March 28, 2010. "Congress may not require the States to administer a federal regulatory program"