Firearm Ownership State or City?

[Alexander Smith]

Hi! Are firearm ownership laws, and firearms laws in general, ONLY state specific? Or do cities have their own special laws too? For instance, I live in Mississippi, in a small city called Pascagoula. If I purchased a standard hunting rifle, would I have to check out state AND city laws? Or just state laws?

Also, what type of license (if any) is required to purchase/own/shoot a pistol, or rifle, or shotgun? I know that to buy and automatic weapon, a person must have a Class-III firearms license, is there some kind of Class-I or Class-II license required for handguns, rifles and shotguns?

Thank you for any replies.


On a side note, some of you may know that I am an Explorer, I would have asked this question to the police officer who is in charge of our post, but his schedule is tight, and I don't want to inconvenience him with questions of this kind, I hope you understand.

Thanks again.

[ChesCopPodz]

City and state laws both would need checked. I doubt you'd find any difference in most places, but there are cities that deviate from the state laws.

[jeffyc]

Im in Ms too. You have to go through a quick background check to purchase a firearm. In Ms you can carry a loaded firearm in your vehicle (Granted that your legal to own it) as your vehicle is considered an extension of your home. It would never hurt to check out your cities statutes as well, my city doesnt have additional statutes, we just go by the states, but thats different from city to city.

A little piece of advice, if you get pulled over with a weapon in your vehicle, tell the officer about it and dont make any sudden moves :D

[txinvestigator1]

The first tier of firearms laws are Federal Laws. In addition to that, many states and even cities have additional restrictions.

In Texas, a free state, we only have federal laws to worry about in regards to purchasing and owning firearms. We do have laws against felons owning firearms, etc.

Texas does regulate the carry of handguns, but long guns are pretty much unrestricted. Our state constitution and government code prohibits other jurisdictions (like cities) from further restricting firearms laws.

Everyone stand up!



Texas, Our Texas! all hail the mighty State!
Texas, Our Texas! so wonderful so great!
Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test
O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest.
(chorus)

Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star,
Sends out its radiance to nations near and far,
Emblem of Freedom! it set our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.
(chorus)

Texas, dear Texas! from tyrant grip now free,
Shines forth in splendor, your star of destiny!
Mother of heroes, we come your children true,
Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.

Chorus

God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.

[Alexander Smith]

City and state laws both would need checked. I doubt you'd find any difference in most places, but there are cities that deviate from the state laws.

Ah okay, thank you.

Im in Ms too. You have to go through a quick background check to purchase a firearm. In Ms you can carry a loaded firearm in your vehicle (Granted that your legal to own it) as your vehicle is considered an extension of your home. It would never hurt to check out your cities statutes as well, my city doesnt have additional statutes, we just go by the states, but thats different from city to city.

A little piece of advice, if you get pulled over with a weapon in your vehicle, tell the officer about it and dont make any sudden moves :D

My family owns a few guns, only 2 of them work, and we have no ammunition for them. :P They always stay in a secure place, never to be moved. Thanks for the advice!

The first tier of firearms laws are Federal Laws. In addition to that, many states and even cities have additional restrictions.

In Texas, a free state, we only have federal laws to worry about in regards to purchasing and owning firearms. We do have laws against felons owning firearms, etc.

Texas does regulate the carry of handguns, but long guns are pretty much unrestricted. Our state constitution and government code prohibits other jurisdictions (like cities) from further restricting firearms laws.

Everyone stand up!



Texas, Our Texas! all hail the mighty State!
Texas, Our Texas! so wonderful so great!
Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test
O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest.
(chorus)

Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star,
Sends out its radiance to nations near and far,
Emblem of Freedom! it set our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.
(chorus)

Texas, dear Texas! from tyrant grip now free,
Shines forth in splendor, your star of destiny!
Mother of heroes, we come your children true,
Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.

Chorus

God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.

I love Texas! My grandfather lives there, and my family used to live there as well, in Houston. When I start to live on my own, I will move to Texas for sure.

[SnapShawt]

Everyone stand up!



Texas, Our Texas! all hail the mighty State!
Texas, Our Texas! so wonderful so great!
Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test
O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest.
(chorus)

Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star,
Sends out its radiance to nations near and far,
Emblem of Freedom! it set our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.
(chorus)

Texas, dear Texas! from tyrant grip now free,
Shines forth in splendor, your star of destiny!
Mother of heroes, we come your children true,
Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.

Chorus

God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.

*SALUTE*

[TX-LEO]

Hi! Are firearm ownership laws, and firearms laws in general, ONLY state specific? Or do cities have their own special laws too? For instance, I live in Mississippi, in a small city called Pascagoula. If I purchased a standard hunting rifle, would I have to check out state AND city laws? Or just state laws?

Also, what type of license (if any) is required to purchase/own/shoot a pistol, or rifle, or shotgun? I know that to buy and automatic weapon, a person must have a Class-III firearms license, is there some kind of Class-I or Class-II license required for handguns, rifles and shotguns?

Thank you for any replies.


On a side note, some of you may know that I am an Explorer, I would have asked this question to the police officer who is in charge of our post, but his schedule is tight, and I don't want to inconvenience him with questions of this kind, I hope you understand.

Thanks again.

Go to a gun store and ask. Cops usually are not the best first choice to ask about gun law.

To buy a handgun from a dealer, you need to be 21.

To buy a rifle from a dealer, you need to be 18.

To own either one, it's 18 in most states.

Also use the search function. This has been answered a 100 times on here alone. Google should give you another 100,000 posts.

[Lawson]

We have state laws for guns here. We also have a "state pre-emption" law concerning the carry of firearms. The pre-emption basically says that the state, and only the state can make laws concerning carrying weapons. If any city or county or anything makes a more restrictive law, it is automatically repealed.

[Alexander Smith]

Go to a gun store and ask. Cops usually are not the best first choice to ask about gun law.

To buy a handgun from a dealer, you need to be 21.

To buy a rifle from a dealer, you need to be 18.

To own either one, it's 18 in most states.

Also use the search function. This has been answered a 100 times on here alone. Google should give you another 100,000 posts.

I understand, but I can't seem to find a specific answer to this:

Does a person need a license to OWN a firearm? Or just a license to carry it/hunt and that sort of thing?

[txinvestigator1]

I understand, but I can't seem to find a specific answer to this:

Does a person need a license to OWN a firearm? Or just a license to carry it/hunt and that sort of thing?

Again, it depends on where you live. Federal law does not require licensing to own firearms, and there is no federal law regarding the carry of firearms except for federal buildings and property.

In Texas, there is no licensing or registration to own firearms. There is no licensing to carry long guns, but there are restrictions on where they can be carried. Handguns can be carried in some places, like your car and residence, etc., without licensing. To carry outside of those places on your person a Concealed Handgun License is required. There are additional restrictions on where handguns can be carried.

See all of Texas' weapons laws here; http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes...0.htm#46.01.00

[Lawson]

In Washington, you need a concealed pistol license to carry anywhere concealed, which you must be 21 to get. You can also "open carry" with no license and also carry just about anywhere (there are restrictions to both concealed and open carry). You must also be 21 to open carry.

[jeffyc]

I understand, but I can't seem to find a specific answer to this:

Does a person need a license to OWN a firearm? Or just a license to carry it/hunt and that sort of thing?

To Own? No license is needed.

To Carry it? Unless it is in your car, Yes a license is needed (You can get a CCW from the MHP in Jackson fr $150 bucks)

To Carry it while hunting? Rifle or Shotgun - No license is needed, Handgun - See above.

[txinvestigator1]

To Own? No license is needed.

To Carry it? Unless it is in your car, Yes a license is needed (You can get a CCW from the MHP in Jackson fr $150 bucks)

To Carry it while hunting? Rifle or Shotgun - No license is needed, Handgun - See above.

Where in the south might that be?

[jeffyc]

Where in the south might that be?

Ms a.k.a. the armpit of the south :D

[Alexander Smith]

To Own? No license is needed.

To Carry it? Unless it is in your car, Yes a license is needed (You can get a CCW from the MHP in Jackson fr $150 bucks)

To Carry it while hunting? Rifle or Shotgun - No license is needed, Handgun - See above.

Oh I get it now! Thank you so much, and thanks to the other people who posted too. Sorry for being a dunderhead.

Ms a.k.a. the armpit of the south :D

Hey! :p