The issue of gun registration in the United States has been a hot topic for decades now. Supporters of gun registration argue that it would help law enforcement trace guns used in crimes back to their owners and prevent dangerous individuals from obtaining firearms. Critics counter that registration infringes upon the Second Amendment right to bear arms and could lead to weapons being confiscated.

This article aims to highlight the basics regarding firearms registration in the US, and specifically in your state. We’ve also included information about the permits required for carrying and buying firearms, as well as the legality of open carry.

That said, as a gun owner, it is your personal responsibility to thoroughly research and understand the laws pertaining to your individual situation. This article intends to inform, but does not constitute legal advice. When in doubt, please consult a lawyer to ensure you are fully compliant with all applicable gun laws and requirements.

What Is Gun Registration?

Firearm registration refers to the requirement that gun owners register their firearms with a designated law enforcement agency. The purpose of registration is to create a paper trail linking guns to owners. Registration typically involves providing the personal information of the gun owner along with details about the gun itself.

Specifically, the gun owner may have to provide the serial number of the firearm, their full name, and current address. This creates a record connecting the owner and the gun to that particular gun registry. However, some jurisdictions only require registration for certain types of guns, like assault weapons.

Firearms Registration in The United States

Gun laws in the United States are an extremely complex web of federal, state, county, and municipal laws, codes, and regulations.

A Constitutional Right

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants citizens the right to bear arms. This amendment has also made it difficult to implement federal gun control laws.

There is no federal law that requires firearms to be registered in the United States. In fact, the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act of 1986 explicitly prohibits the federal government from maintaining any gun registry of gun owners or records of their firearm purchases. This Act revised the original Gun Control Act of 1968 to impose limits on the federal government’s authority regarding firearms regulation. In relevant part:

“No such rule or regulation prescribed [by the Attorney General] after the date of the enactment of the Firearms Owners Protection Act may require that records required to be maintained under this chapter or any portion of the contents of such records, be recorded at or transferred to a facility owned, managed, or controlled by the United States or any State or any political subdivision thereof, nor that any system of registration of firearms, firearms owners, or firearms transactions or disposition be established. Nothing in this section expands or restricts the Secretary’s authority to inquire into the disposition of any firearm in the course of a criminal investigation.”

Gun Registration Requirements by State

According to Statista Research Department data from May 2023, state laws vary regarding purchasing and carrying firearms without a permit, registering guns with the state, and openly carrying guns in public.

As of October 2023, eight states mandate registering firearms with the state government. Meanwhile, seven states have implemented total bans on public open carry. The following information is current as of the time of this writing:

Alabama

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

Alabama does not require firearm registration.

Alaska

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)

There is no statewide registration of firearms in Alaska

Arizona

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Arizona Department of Public Safety

Arizona does not require firearm registration and prohibits local jurisdictions from imposing licensing or registration requirements.

Arkansas

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Arkansas State Police

Arkansas has no law requiring firearm owners to register their firearms.

California

Firearm registration required: Yes
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: No
Where to start: California Department of Justice – Bureau of Firearms

California requires registration only for assault weapons and imported handguns. However, a Firearm Ownership Report must be submitted to the Department of Justice when seeking the return of any firearm without an existing record of ownership.

Colorado

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Colorado Bureau of Investigation

Colorado does not require firearm registration by state law.

Connecticut

Firearm registration required: Yes
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Connecticut State Police – Special Licensing and Firearms Unit

When firearms are not included or deemed assault weapons, then registration is not required.

Delaware

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Delaware State Police

Delaware prohibits firearm registration except for prohibited persons.

Florida

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

No firearm registration, license or permit is required to carry rifles or shotguns.

Georgia

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Georgia Bureau of Investigation

Georgia has no law requiring firearm owners to register their firearms.

Hawaii

Firearm registration required: Yes
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Hawaii Department of the Attorney General

All firearms obtained or bought into the state are required to be registered with the county police department.

Idaho

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Idaho State Police

The state constitution states that no law shall impose licensure, registration or special taxation on the ownership or possession of firearms or ammunition.

Illinois

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: No
Where to start: Illinois State Police – Firearm Services Bureau

Illinois does not require firearm registration. However, from 2024, AR weapons need to be registered, as more detailed information will be made available on how to register the firearm.

Indiana

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Indiana State Police – Firearms Licensing

Indiana does not require the registration of firearms.

Iowa

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Iowa Department of Public Safety

Iowa does not require firearm owners to register their guns

Kansas

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Kansas Attorney General’s Office – Concealed Carry Licensing

There are no requirements for firearms registration.

Kentucky

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Kentucky State Police – Concealed Deadly Weapons

Kentucky does not require firearm registration.

Louisiana

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Louisiana State Police – Concealed Handgun Permit Unit

Louisiana only requires certain firearms to be registered.

Maine

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Maine State Police – Firearms Unit

Maine has no law requiring firearms to be registered.

Maryland

Firearm registration required: Yes
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Maryland State Police – Licensing Division

The registration is required and voluntary depending on the gun type.

Massachusetts

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services

The state does not require firearms registration.

Michigan

Firearm registration required: Yes
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Michigan State Police – Firearms Records Unit

Though Michigan does not have a formal system for registering firearms, retail gun sellers in the state are obligated to maintain records of all firearm sales. Additionally, any handgun sales must be reported to law enforcement authorities.

Minnesota

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Minnesota Department of Public Safety – Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

Minnesota does not require firearm registration.

Mississippi

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Mississippi Department of Public Safety – Firearm Permit Unit

There is no firearms registration in the state.

Missouri

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start Missouri State Highway Patrol – Concealed Carry Permit Unit

Registration of firearms is not mandatory under Missouri gun law.

Montana

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Montana Department of Justice

Montana does not require the registration of firearms.

Nebraska

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Nebraska State Patrol – Concealed Handgun Permit

Nebraska has no law requiring the registration of firearms. However, the city of Omaha requires additional steps to owning a gun.

Nevada

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Nevada Department of Public Safety

Nevada does not require the registration of firearms.

New Hampshire

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: New Hampshire Department of Safety – Division of State Police

New Hampshire has no law requiring firearms registration.

New Jersey

Firearm registration required: Yes
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: New Jersey State Police – Firearms Investigation Unit

Only handguns are required to be registered if purchased by a state resident.

New Mexico

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: New Mexico Department of Public Safety – Concealed Carry Unit

New Mexico does not require gun owners to register their firearms.

New York

Firearm registration required: Yes
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: No
Where to start: New York State Police – Division of Criminal Justice Services

New York law requires that weapons constituted as “assault weapons” be registered.

North Carolina

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: North Carolina Department of Public Safety – Firearms Permits

North Carolina has no law that requires the comprehensive registration of firearms.

North Dakota

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation

There is no firearm registration in North Dakota.

Ohio

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Ohio Attorney General’s Office – Concealed Carry Licensing Unit

There is no “Gun Registry” in the state of Ohio.

Oklahoma

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation

Oklahoma does not require the registration of firearms.

Oregon

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Oregon State Police – Concealed Handgun Licensing Unit

Oregon does not require registration.

Pennsylvania

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Pennsylvania State Police – Firearm Records Unit

Firearm registration is not required in Pennsylvania. However, the police keep track of all legal handgun sales.

Rhode Island

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: Yes
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Rhode Island Department of Public Safety

Rhode Island does not have firearm registration.

South Carolina

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)

South Carolina has no law requiring firearms to be registered.

South Dakota

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: South Dakota Secretary of State – Concealed Pistol Permits

South Dakota does not require the registration of firearms.

Tennessee

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation – Handgun Permits

Tennessee does not require owners to register firearms.

Texas

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Texas Department of Public Safety – Regulatory Services Division

The State of Texas does not maintain a registry of firearms.

Utah

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Utah Department of Public Safety – Bureau of Criminal Identification

Utah does not require firearm owners to register their firearms.

Vermont

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Vermont State Police

Vermont has no law requiring the registration of firearms.

Virginia

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Virginia State Police

Virginia does not require firearms to be registered. With the exception of automatic weapons which must be registered with the state police.

Washington

Firearm registration required: Yes
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Washington State Department of Licensing – Firearms Unit

Washington has no law requiring firearm owners to register their firearms.

West Virginia

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: West Virginia State Police

West Virginia does not require registration of firearms.

Wisconsin

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: Yes
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Wisconsin Department of Justice – Firearms Unit

Wisconsin does not require firearm owners to register their firearms.

Wyoming

Firearm registration required: No
Permit required to carry: No
Permit required to purchase: No
Open carry legal: Yes
Where to start: Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation – Concealed Firearm Permits

Wyoming does not require the registration of firearms.

Wrapping Up

As the laws differ greatly from state to state, it’s crucial that gun owners research the requirements necessary to own a firearm in their state.

When purchasing, carrying, or registering a gun, consult local statutes and ordinances. Counties and cities often have additional restrictions beyond state laws. Checking thoroughly and at all governmental levels helps ensure that you have followed the proper protocols in your specific municipality. Stay up-to-date to be fully compliant.