Is it true that getting a gun in the United States is easy?

[ignorantrodentlover]

I dunno, whenever I have a friends from the United States have a discussion about guns, it sounds like that it's just so simple to obtain a gun, that you can easily replace the word "gun" in those sentences with "a carton of milk" and it will still make sense HAHAHA,

Like I know that there's probably more to it than that but between all the memes I've been seeing and how those friends talk about this stuff, I really just can't help but get curious and ask this.

[Sharkbite]

Compared to some countries, purchasing a firearm in the US is very easy. The country was designed that way. Enshrined in our Constitution is the enumerated RIGHT to “Keep and BARE arms”.
Some States have laws that make it more difficult than others…waiting periods, only guns on a govt appoved list, things like that. By and large, if you are not a criminal or other prohibited person, you walk into a store, choose your firearm, show an ID, fill out a form for a background check and walk out with the gun (if not the same day, then just a few days later).

[Nathan]

In the United States, we have an uninfringable right to Keep and Bear Arms. Included in this is the right to buy.

Today, you buy a gun by driving to a place where a firearm businesses are allowed to operate. This could be 1mi to 30mi away. Then you wait in line. At Vance’s near me you are looking at 30 min to 2hrs to talk to a salesperson. Then you select your firearm while they rush you. Then you fill out a 4473. Then you wait for them to get back to you. Then you wait about 1hr for them to do your “instant” check. If there is any issue, your purchase has been on hold for 3 days and you start over. Then you go to the counter to receive your non-returnable product that you have only been allowed to glance at. Then you check out.

Milk takes 5min and no checks.hmm

[rickyrick]

A lot of the USA you aren’t treated like a criminal until you are one. Mostly.
Some areas, it doesn’t seem easy. I don’t know, could be rumor because I stay away from places that you can’t own a gun. There’s some locations that have loosened restrictions and others are clamping down. In general our civil rights are gradually being eroded.

In general, it’s easy in many locations but there is no store that does it without some form of background check. I have a LTC in Texas, so I’m exempt from the background check.

[Shadow9mm]

No it is not as easy as buying a carton of milk, but I would not call it hard. For me in the state of Indiana.
Go to a gun shop
Fill out background check
wait about 15 minutes for the background check to process
pass the background check
pay the shop
walk out the door with my new gun.

[Aguila Blanca]

The United States has fifty states, plus the District of Columbia (Washington, DC). Each has its own laws and regulations. Purchasing a firearm is more difficult/involved in some states than it is in others, and purchasing a handgun is often more involved than purchasing a rifle or a shotgun. Some states ban firearms such as AR-15s, and any firearm with a magazine capacity of more than ten rounds.

Every state is different.

[ballardw]

Bought a pistol yesterday at a local auction house. Spent more time waiting for my turn at the computer to fill-out their online 4473 then anything else. 25 minutes or so total with 2 others in the office also paying for firearms.

My state is one where the concealed carry license means the actual call to NICS isn't needed and one reason to maintain the license.

[armoredman]

It all depends on where you live in the US. While I don't have to fill out a form to buy milk, depending on how much I need at the grocery store in total, I might be there longer. I walk in to the Federal Firearms Licensee premises, (gun shop or pawn shop), to pick up my ordered gun, (I rarely if ever buy a gun FROM a local gun shop, can almost always find it cheaper on line), do my 4473, (electronic nowadays, don't like it), show my CCW permit, (not needed to carry openly or concealed in Arizona, since we are a Constitutional Carry State, but it eliminates the background check step) and ID, pay the lady and walk out the door. That's the official way.
Since we are still a Free State, for now, I can also buy guns perfectly legally from another non-prohibited possessor. Cash on the barrel head to my buddy for that revolver I've been asking him about for a year and he finally caved...and out the door I go. No need for anyone else to get involved, not doing anything illegal.



Unfortunately, he doesn't have goats or cattle, so I can't get milk from him.

[44 AMP]

Like I know that there's probably more to it than that but between all the memes I've been seeing and how those friends talk about this stuff, I really just can't help but get curious and ask this.

"Easy" depends on what you are buying, and where you are, and who you are buying it from.

And when. I've been buying guns since the 70s, and have seen things change hugely since then. In 1968, the US passed a federal law requiring age limits, for purchase from licensed dealers, 18 for rifles and shotguns, 21 for handguns, and requiring dealers to be licensed.

Purchases from private individuals in the same state were not affected, at that time. Since then numerous state laws have changed that in various stated.

And, depending on where you live, its gotten a lot more restrictive in the last few decades. In my state, in 1980 you could buy a rifle or shotgun, from a dealer by paying the price, filling out the Federal form, and taking the gun home with you right after that. There were no background checks, and while there was a state mandated waiting period for a handgun, if you had a concealed weapon permit, the waiting period was waived.

Today, there is not only the Federal background check, an "up to 10 days" wait and transactions between private individuals are required to go through and FFL dealer. And special rules that apply to the purchase of semiautomatic "assault weapons", many of which are prohibited to buy or sell in the state, along with magazines for them.

There are still some states where things are more like they were then, but not many.

[Nathan]

To be fair, my post above is in a gun friendly state. My point was that even in a gun friendly state in a store that does high volume, there are things that just make it hard.

That said, in my town in a gun friendly state, I normally buy guns in one of 2 much easier ways. If I'm looking for something specific or uncommon, I normally buy from a forum member or Gunbroker. Those guns come from and FFL or non-FFL to my FFL where I do a transfer at our convenience. He is quick, friendly and reasonably priced. He still follows every US and state gun law perfectly. He just finds a way to do it in about 10 min.

If I'm buying a common gun, I buy from an online FFL where they ship to the same guy above who follows every law perfectly in about 10 min again.

Last, if I'm looking for a common gun and used is fine. . .kind of a spare gun money thing. . .I will look in local classifieds. . .usually online. I will buy from a local person where we follow every gun law we are required in a grocery store parking lot during the daytime. These are good exchanges and I find we often stay and talk about guns and shooting in general for a few extra minutes because we share a common interest.

I cannot imagine living in DC or Chicago where we live under the same national flag, but residents are all but barred from buying guns while criminals and the private armies of wealthy people buy whatever kind of restricted or unrestricted firearm and use them without concern for the written laws.

[jmr40]

If I'm buying from an individual, it's literally just as easy to legally do the transaction as buying a carton of milk in my state. I give you money, you give me firearm.

I do have an obligation to try to determine if the seller is legit. If the price is just too cheap there is a good chance I'm buying a stolen firearm and that could lead to legal headaches later.

If I'm the seller, I want to see proof that the individual is old enough and is a resident of my home state. If selling to someone underage or living in another state I'm breaking the law. I don't have an obligation to do a background check, but if I know, or should have known, the buyer couldn't legally possess a firearm then I'm in legal jeopardy.

Buying from a retail store can take 5 minutes, or over an hour depending on the individual stores policy. Since I have a carry permit the background check is waived for me. I show my permit and driver's license. The store makes a copy while I fill out the 4473 form. Once done I give the store cash and walk out with the gun. I've done it in 5 minutes.

Other stores, usually larger ones, need to have 3-5 different people check the accuracy of everything as well as some paperwork for the store. That can take an hour or more.

[Aguila Blanca]

Originally Posted by jmr40

If I'm buying from an individual, it's literally just as easy to legally do the transaction as buying a carton of milk in my state. I give you money, you give me firearm.

Once again, it depends on the state. In my home state, even a private sale requires that the buyer have a permit (or a different permission slip for long guns) and a prior approval -- with a specific transaction number -- from the State Police.

[FITASC]

I live in "The Free State of Florida" as it says on the welcome signs entering our state. Face to Face sales are legal with zero paperwork, BUT we do have a 3-day waiting period if you do not have a CWFL, YET you can conceal carry without a CWFL. (CWFL stands for Concealed Weapon and Firearm License). That means we can conceal carry other weapons besides handguns. I have my CWFL because I am frequently in Alabama and Georgia and they are reciprocal states

[stagpanther]

And, depending on where you live, its gotten a lot more restrictive in the last few decades. In my state, in 1980 you could buy a rifle or shotgun, from a dealer by paying the price, filling out the Federal form, and taking the gun home with you right after that.

I don't seem to remember "buy and walk" in the 1980's--they didn't have the phone-in FBI check back then IIRC. I remember an interview and a yellow sheet that had to be filled out and a "cooling off" period of about 5 days to a week before getting a response that things were "good to go." Maybe it varied depending where you lived--but things are far easier these days IMO. Now if you're talking firearms ordered on-line or by phone and the interstate shipping issues--yes, that is more complicated these days.

[Ricklin]

My brother worked the counter at Ken's gun in Crescent, Oregon. May well be the only state liquor store and gun shop that exists anywhere.
Oregon liquor stores are fully state controlled and regulated, only place to buy liquor in Oregon are state stores. I told Ken years ago he needed to add a nice humidor and rename his store. ATF would be just perfect.

[BobCat45]

Ricklin said

I told Ken years ago he needed to add a nice humidor and rename his store. ATF would be just perfect.

That's great!

Quite a few years ago (1971 I think) I purchased my very first revolver, a Colt SAA in .357 magnum, at a place called Mike's Smoke'n gun in Waukegan, IL. Tobacco, pipes, cigars, and guns. Owned by a fellow named Mike Schrank.

Closed in 2019 but their legacy website is still up, https://www.smokengun.org/

[Mal H]

it sounds like that it's just so simple to obtain a gun, that you can easily replace the word "gun" in those sentences with "a carton of milk" and it will still make sense

No, buying a carton of milk is not a good analogy for buying a gun in the US. The process varies greatly by state as has been said over and over.

Closed.