The data contained within this page is copyrighted by James Bardwell and
is reproduced here with permission. Formatting and HTML is copyright Brian A.
Blakley.
Here is my [James Bardwell's] attempt to list what state allows what in
terms of NFA weapons. The "Y" indicates state law allows private individuals to
own the weapon in question. Most of the "Y" states require the weapons be
possessed in compliance with federal law to be legal under state law. Some of the
"N" states may allow only police officers to possess them, or dealers, or
neither. Basically if the privileged class was so narrow, by statute, I said
"N". In many states the class of folks able to own NFA weapons is narrow by
practice (California), or because no law enforcement officers will sign the certification
needed for a transfer to an individual.
Some of the "N" states may also have grandfathered weapons, the
"N" applies to a current transaction. Some "N" states may also allow
unserviceable weapons. Some states may regulate one or more of these weapons as handguns.
| State |
Machine
Guns |
Sound
Suppressor |
Short
Rifle |
Short
Shotgun |
AOW |
Large Bore
DD |
Explosive
DD |
Comments |
| AK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| AL |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
? |
|
| AR |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
? |
State registration of pistol caliber machine guns over
.30 caliber. |
| AZ |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| CA |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Requires discretionary and rarely issued permit for
machine guns, large bore DD's, and explosive DD's from state Dept. of Justice; no AOW pen
guns; C&R short rifles and shotguns only. |
| CO |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Requires state explosives permit for Explosive DD. |
| CT |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
? |
No select fire machine guns, full auto only, after 1993
assault weapons ban, state registration of machine guns. |
| DE |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
No smooth bore pistol AOW's. |
| FL |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| GA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
No incendiary explosive DD's. |
| HI |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
A clean sweep!, the only state like this. |
| IA |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Only suppressors, short rifles and shotguns, large bore
DD's, and explosive DD's designated as collector's items by the Comm'r of Public Safety,
he uses the ATF C&R list) |
| ID |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| IL |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
? |
N |
|
| IN |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
| KS |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
? |
|
| KY |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
? |
|
| LA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Machine guns require a permit to purchase - war relics
only; machine guns, short rifles and shotguns, suppressors, and some explosive DD's
require a permit to purchase. |
| MA |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
License for machine guns required; 1998 law bans covert
firearms (AOW's), and short shotguns. |
| MD |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Machine guns must be registered. |
| ME |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| MI |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Apparently approved form 4 suffices for
"license" for machine guns, suppressors or some explosive DD's (bombs) despite
Attorney General opinion reprinted in ATF State Law Book; no incendiary explosive DD's;
C&R short rifles and shotguns only. |
| MN |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
? |
C&R machine guns, short shoguns only, registration
required. |
| MO |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
C&R machine guns, short rifles and shotguns only to
non-FFL holders. C&R FFL holders any machine gun, short rifle or shotgun. |
| MS |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| MT |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Pistol cal. machine guns over .30 caliber must be
registered with state. |
| NE |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
| NC |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Sheriff's permit required for mg's; must be FFL holder
(including C&R) or must be for "scientific or experimental purposes" for a
machine gun, suppressor, short rifle or shotgun, large bore DD, and explosive DD. As
a practical matter the law seems to be ignored. |
| ND |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Federal "licensees" required to register all
NFA weapons with state when possessed for "protection or sale". |
| NH |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| NJ |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Machine gun requires discretionary and rarely issued
permit from state court. |
| NM |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| NV |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| NY |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
AOW pen guns, smooth bore handguns and likely other
disguised, hand fired firearms are allowed, on a state pistol license. |
| OH |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| OK |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| OR |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
No incendiary explosive DD's. |
| PA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
| RI |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
? |
|
| SC |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
? |
|
| SD |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| TN |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
? |
|
| TX |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| UT |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| VA |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
State registration of all machine guns. |
| VT |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| WA |
N |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
N |
Suppressor may not be used on a gun. |
| WI |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Permit required for explosive DD's, no incendiary
explosive DD's; no pistol caliber machine guns w/o permit. |
| WV |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
? |
|
| WY |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
? |
|
