How do you find out if you can legally own a firearm?

Answer 1

One way is to read all of your state and federal firearm laws. Be prepared to read for a few days as there are a lot of them.

A better way is to talk with a lawyer who specializes in firearm law. I would recommend against asking the police because most of them know very little if any firearm law, and some of them make it up as they go.

The things that are most likely to keep you from being able to own a firearm "legally" are a criminal record, drug abuse, and restraining orders.

As a rule of thumb, if you have a felony conviction, you may not posses either firearms or ammunition. If you have ANY felony conviction and are within close proximity to a gun, you can be charged with Felony Firearms, and potentially face ten years imprisonment for the gun, and ten years each for the rounds.

Answer 2

First, look up the federal list of people who cannot possess a firearm. Note that there are a couple kinds of people who cannot "buy" a firearm, but they could possess one (e.g. people under indictment for a felony but not yet convicted, who already owned firearms before the indictment).

Then look up your own state's laws on the subject to see if they have any additional restrictions on who can buy or possess firearms, or ammunition.

If you don't get a definite answer just by looking at the federal and state lists and remembering your own history, then the next step is to see a lawyer.

Answer 3

Search your state gun laws or call a gun shop. I know here in ÇA you need to be 21 for a handgun and 18 for a long gun. Your state maybe different.