Under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, you cannot have a gun for personal or business use if you: However, it should be noted that some states, including New York and California, have prohibited the ownership of these types of firearms and devices. In order to purchase one of these "NFA firearms or devices," owners must go through an extensive background check, purchase a tax stamp for the manufacture of the firearm or device, and register the weapon with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' (ATF) NFA registry. The National Firearms Act (NFA), for instance, restricts the sale or possession of short-barreled shotguns, machine guns, and silencers. Federal Gun Lawsįederal law regulates gun ownership to some degree, including restricting the ownership of certain types of firearms.
Read on to learn more about state and federal gun laws. However, gun owners, dealers, and collectors must nonetheless follow state and federal laws if they wish to possess a firearm or run a business selling guns.
Constitution states: "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." Gun owners often cite the Second Amendment when arguing against gun restrictions.