Private Gun Sales: Background Check Laws in All 50 States
Twenty-two states and D.C. require a background check or permit for some or all private gun sales; 28 leave in-state sales to federal law. Find your state’s row and statute.
Gun-owner reference desk
Plain-English references worth bookmarking — NFA rules, carry law, and the gear terms behind every review.
2A & gun-law glossary
| 2026 at a glance | |
|---|---|
| NFA tax stamp | $0 |
| Permitless carry | 29 states |
| Suppressors legal | 42 states |
50+ NFA, carry and gun-law terms in plain English, updated for 2026.
Open the glossary → NetworkGun & gear glossary
| Term | Category |
|---|---|
| Striker-fired | Action |
| MOA | Optics |
| Twist rate | Ballistics |
30 gun, ammo and optics terms, from Guns & Gadgets Daily.
View full chart →Reader Favorites
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Sell My Gun: What It’s Worth and How to Sell It Legally
Six ways to sell a gun, the one federal line every private seller must respect, and what GunsAmerica charges sellers, from free listings to a 6% after-sale fee.
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How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy a Gun? Age by State
Federal law says 18 for a rifle or shotgun at a dealer and 21 for a handgun, and 17 states plus D.C. set 21 for handguns on their own. Find your state’s buying and carry age, with the statute.
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Can You Buy a Gun as a Gift? Rules in All 50 States
A bona fide gun gift is legal under federal law, but 15 states and D.C. require a check on every gift and four more on handguns. Find your state’s family exemption and under-21 rule.
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Kim Kelley TEDx Talk: Why Kids Inside Abusive Systems Often Don’t Ask for Help
Kim Kelley, a cult and child-trafficking survivor, explains at TEDx why kids inside abusive systems often don’t ask for help, and the six questions to ask before calling anything a solution.
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Waiting Period for Guns by State: Days, Permits, Courts
Thirteen states and D.C. hold a paid-for gun for 72 hours to as long as 30 days; the rest set no fixed wait. One row per state, with the permits that skip the wait and the statute behind each.
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Gun Ballot Measures: What Your Vote Does in Four States
Four states vote on gun or hunting measures on November 3, 2026: Arkansas Issue 2, Colorado Amendment 83, Massachusetts Question 9 (where YES keeps the 2024 law) and Idaho’s advisory state gun pick.
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Gun Laws by State: All 50 States and D.C. in One Table
Permitless carry, magazine limits, suppressors and stand your ground for all 50 states and D.C., one row each, including the three states that lowered their carry age in 2026.
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Guns at Polling Places: Rules in All 50 States and D.C.
Twenty-two states and D.C. restrict guns at polling places by statute, and 28 states have no polling-place ban. Find your state’s rule, distance and statute before you vote.
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Self-Defense Laws by State: The 5 Tests That Matter
The five questions self-defense statutes ask, shown in the real text of Florida chapter 776 and New York Penal Law 35.15, plus a 50-state table of retreat rules, presumptions and civil immunity.
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Gun Laws While Traveling by Car Across State Lines
The federal safe passage law, 18 U.S.C. 926A, word for word: where the gun goes in a sedan, SUV and pickup, why overnight stops and magazines break the protection, and a printable pre-trip checklist.
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Most Gun Friendly States, Scored on the Law
All 50 states scored on eight written laws, one point each, with the math shown. Nine states score a perfect 8; Hawaii, Massachusetts and New York score 0.
