Firearms AlmanacEst. 2026

Chapter IV · Firearms Almanac

Laws & Regulations

Federal law, every state, DC and three territories

Gun laws in the United States come in layers. Federal law sets the baseline everywhere, and then each state, the District of Columbia and each territory adds its own rules on top. To know what applies to you, you need both layers, plus any city or county rules where you live.

This chapter walks through those layers in plain language. Start with the federal page, then open your state. Every entry links to the official sources we used and shows the date we last reviewed it, so you can always check our work.

Start here

Federal law

The rules that apply in every state and territory: who can own a gun, age limits, dealer background checks, buying and shipping across state lines, NFA items (including ATF's October 2026 change for suppressors and SBRs), travel, and recent Supreme Court cases.

Read the federal guide → (15 topics · reviewed October 22, 2026)
What's changing

Pending legislation and litigation

Bills, ballot measures, ATF rules and court cases that could change the rules, explained in plain language. Right now we're tracking 26 open items.

See what's pending →Updated weekly · Last scan

States, DC and territories#

54 pages: all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 3 U.S. territories. Search by name, or pick a topic under Quick compare to see how places line up.

Quick compare

Showing 54 of 54

Quick-compare answers are a simplified reading of each entry. Open a page for the full details, exceptions and sources.

Good to know everywhere#

A few developments touch every state's page at once. Keep these in mind as you read.

Federal NFA change (suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, AOWs)

Congress set the federal NFA making and transfer tax to $0 for suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs) and 'any other weapons' effective January 1, 2026 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, 2025). After a federal district court ruling (Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, N.D. Tex., Aug. 5, 2026), ATF published an open letter from Director Robert Cekada, a press release, a fact sheet and an FAQ saying that as of October 9, 2026 it will not enforce the NFA's approval, registration, tax-stamp and related requirements for those four items, for everyone. Machine guns and destructive devices remain fully regulated. The Gun Control Act still applies, including dealer background checks, the prohibited-person rules, and an approved Form 20 to take an SBR or SBS across state lines, and dealers still may not sell in violation of state or local law. ATF says this does not override state or local law. A state that bans these items still bans them. Many state laws make these items legal only if they are 'registered' or 'lawful under federal law', and how those state laws apply to unregistered items is currently unclear. ATF also warns that enforcement could resume if the law, the ruling or DOJ policy changes. Keep this note in mind whenever you read a state's suppressor, SBR or SBS entry.

Federal NFA details → · ATF's NFA FAQ explained (Ledger Notes) →

Sources:atf.gov ↗atf.gov ↗atf.gov ↗atf.gov ↗govinfo.gov ↗

U.S. Supreme Court 'assault weapon' cases

The Supreme Court granted review (June 30, 2026) in Viramontes v. Cook County (No. 25-238, a Cook County, IL ordinance) and Grant v. Higgins (No. 25-566, Connecticut). The question is whether the Second Amendment protects possession of AR-15-platform rifles. The cases are scheduled for oral argument on December 2, 2026 (not yet argued as of October 15, 2026), and a decision is expected by mid-2027. Magazine-limit petitions (for example Duncan v. Bonta from CA and NAGR v. Lamont from CT) and New Jersey's petition (No. 26-452) were pending as of mid-October 2026. Every state 'assault weapon' and magazine entry could change as a result.

Sources:supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗supremecourt.gov ↗

Wolford v. Lopez (U.S. Supreme Court, June 25, 2026)

The Court struck down Hawaii's rule that licensed carriers may not carry on private property open to the public without the owner's express permission. Similar 'default no-carry on private property' rules in some other states (for example CA, NY, NJ and MD) may be affected. This guide hasn't verified how each state has responded.

Sources:supremecourt.gov ↗scotusblog.com ↗

Federal minimum ages

Under federal law, licensed dealers may sell handguns only to buyers 21 and older, and long guns only to buyers 18 and older. Federal courts have split on whether the 18-20 handgun-sale restriction is constitutional, and this guide doesn't try to resolve that litigation. State rules on how old minors must be to possess guns aren't fully covered here.

Local ordinances

Many cities and counties (for example Chicago and Cook County, IL; Denver and Boulder, CO; Philadelphia, PA; and New York City) have rules stricter than state law. This guide covers state-level law only.

Why these three territories?#

This guide is built for people who buy online, so we include a U.S. territory only when a mainland seller can lawfully ship there: a firearm to a licensed dealer in the territory, and ammunition too. Federal law treats Puerto Rico and the U.S. possessions like states for dealer and shipping rules, but each territory has its own import law on top.

  • Guam: licensed dealers there may import firearms and ammunition under local law.
  • Puerto Rico: licensed dealers there may import firearms and ammunition under local law.
  • U.S. Virgin Islands: licensed dealers there may import firearms and ammunition under local law.
  • Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa aren't covered for now. We couldn't confirm the Northern Mariana Islands' import rules from the primary law text, and American Samoa allows imports only by special government license, with no licensed-dealer channel we could confirm.

Even where the law allows it, carriers are more limited: USPS won't carry ammunition anywhere, and UPS ground service for ammunition doesn't reach the territories. The federal page explains how dealer and shipping rules apply there.

Buying a gun online?

Federal law sends it to a licensed dealer in your home state, who runs the background check and hands it over. Our Dealer Finder shows dealers near you and what they charge for transfers.

Disclaimer

The firearm law information in Firearms Almanac's Laws & Regulations guide (federal, state and territory) is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Firearm laws change frequently, differ by city and county, and are often affected by court decisions that can take effect with little notice. We try to keep this guide accurate and cite official sources, but we make no guarantee that any entry is complete, current, or correct, and we are not responsible for actions taken based on it. Before buying, selling, carrying, transporting, or shipping any firearm, ammunition, magazine, or accessory, check the current law with the official federal, state or territory source linked on each page and, where appropriate, a qualified attorney. Retailers listed on this site set their own shipping and sales policies and are responsible for complying with the law. Each entry shows the date it was last checked. See also our site Disclaimer.