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. • Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York (handguns only), and Oregon require all firearms buyers to be
fingerprinted. California requires a right thumbprint for purchase permits. • 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 some 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 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. • Some states require a
background check of the buyer when a firearm is sold by a private party. (Federal law requires background checks for sales by licensed gun dealers, and for any interstate sales.) • Some states have enacted
red flag laws that enable a judge to issue an order to temporarily confiscate the firearms of a person who presents an imminent threat to others or to themselves. ==Overview==