Questions on firearms in the US

Hi all...

Just watching Grey's Anatomy with the misses, and on an episode a guy goes on a shooting spree around the hospital.

Later he claims he got the gun from a superstore, along with loads of ammo. I'm just wondering as a Brit, how easy is it to actually obtain a gun in the US? I'm guessing its different for different states? Is there different laws on different classes of guns? Do any of you guys own a firearm?

Just think it would be a bit strange if I went in Asda one day and saw a dedicated aisle for firearms lol

 

Walmarts sell rifles, shotguns, and ammunition. Yes there are laws concerning firearms. You can't legally buy a fully auto rifle with an assembled receiver, if I remember correctly without special permissions/licensing. Sometimes it can depend on the state too. Some states have stricter laws.

 

Much appreciate your insight dude, what are the prices like for firearms in Walmart?

Anyone else mind adding?

 

You can check www.Walmart.com for prices, but I believe they are around 400 bucks for a shotgun. Some states you can get a conceal carry license that lets you carry a firearm like a pistol on your person when your out and about. I actually really want to move to California when I am a bit older.

 

In my state, fully automatic weapons are illegal unless you have a special permit, the permit only allows the weapon to be owned, if caught hunting or carrying an automatic weapon you can get serious jail time. The permits are mainly for collectors and people who want to put an automatic weapon on display or people who believe they need such a weapon for protection.(Targets of gang violence or things like that)

However, it's impossible to tell, with some guns atleast, I dont know about all guns, without shooting the weapon off. A fully automatic AK-47 for instance looks no different than a perfectly legal semi-automatic AK-47. So if you were to tell the police it wasn't full automatic, it's not like their going to take your gun out back and start firing at shit to find out.

To own a rife you have to be atleast 18. For a handgun 21+ and I'm not sure on shotguns, I want to say it's 18+ as well, but in my head I feel that they would limit something as powerful as shotguns can be to 21+.

It usually takes 1 week for all of the papers to go through to buy a handgun, I've seen people in walmart picking up rifles as soon as they examine them, so I'm going to take a wild guess and say the waiting period would be just on guns not typically used for hunting(handguns, shotguns, semi-automatic rifles etc).

However their are "guna fairs" in this state, which is held exclusively for private collectors and there is no waiting time on any weapon you buy at a gun fair. You could go to a gun fair and buy a 100% illegal rock launcher and go home with it the same day.

As for ammo, you can buy it anywhere at any age as far as I know. When I was 16 me and a friend bought around 200 .22 shells. Bigger shells and shells for more dangerous weapons may have an age restriction I'm not sure.

I do not own a gun, but when a friend of mine went to prison he left me his custom made silver plated 9mm with "SKUNX" inscribed on the side and 1 full clip until he got out in 2010. Since then I have not owned a firearm, but I turn 21 this coming August and plan to start a very nice collection of handguns, semi-auto rifles and etc.

 

Cheers Fendle, I might have a look tomorrow it's 2:16am now lol, although i did expect it to be a lot more for a shotgun, I was thinking 900-1300$!

Cool what state are you from Grim? Could the police not do a Serial/Model check on the firearm if caught with it though? Unless it could be modified from its original intention. It seems a bit whack that you can get any gun legally at the fair, I'm guessing there are more restrictions at the fair still? What would happen in the event you're coming home after with two RPG's in your boot, the police would have to take your word for granted you've been to a fair I'm guessing? I hope you get your collection going sweet, I've always had an interest in firearms.. I only have two rifles myself.. but our laws restrict me.

 

you get a collectors authentication slip from the fair with the collector's signature on it it's as good as a permit for owning it until you get onto your own property but its dated and each one looks different to avoid forgery. Also, if the weapon is caught off of your property, or in some cases, even just outside of your house can be a felony due to it being strictly a "collector's piece for display purposes only"

but this only goes for things like RPGs and things you arent normally suppose to own at all. As for handguns/shotguns/etc you have a certain amount of days to get the weapon licensed under your name or it can be a felony. I'm not 100% sure on the laws, but keeping a handgun from a collector in your home without getting it licensed is fine, but if its a weapon you are going to have with you, or a weapon you are going to take hunting if youre caught out and about with the weapon I believe its a felony.

Also I live in Missouri. And these might not be 100% accurate as I live with my mother currently, and she doesn't like firearms of any kind, the last time I was at a gun fair was when I was 18, and laws do indeed change ALOT within 2 years. However, through talking to people that share a similar interest in guns, I do know for a fact that youre still able to go to a gun fair and pick up any kind of weapon and take it home that day.

I'm not sure if you still have to go straight home with the weapon, as I know if you have the gun and tell a cop that you just got it or something along the lines of not had the given time to get it registered yet and its not hidden on your body (if its hidden and you dont have a concealed weapons license no matter what its a felony), they will give you a warning and its put into the system, but if you are caught again, it will show up you have had a warning and how long ago the warning was given, if the 2nd cop believes you have had time to get the weapon registered you could be arrested for it.

Also, if you are interested in buying a gun in the USA, if you buy it from another person and not a collector or a store, get it registered as soon as possible ESPECIALLY if you got it for really cheap. I could have gotten a gun about a year ago, hand gun for 50$ USD. the catch? It was the murder weapon in a double homicide in Illinois. Every weapon leaves a very unique signature on a bullet it fires, 5 handguns made by the same company on the same day using the same mold will all leave different scratches and such on the bullet after the bullet is fired. So carrying the gun unregistered that has been used in a murder, and getting caught with the weapon will automatically get you questioned for murder, and unless you can provide the person who sold it to you's name, and when you bought it, etc you will most likely also be arrested and charged with murder and your only hope is to convince the jury that it was bought AFTER the murder during court.

When getting the weapon registered if it has been used in a crime, it will be registered in your name and all the stuff will take around a week, but a cop will show up at your door and take you in for questions, usually you will not be a suspect, but will be asked where and who you go the gun from, and not having that information may cause suspicion and cause you to be a suspect.


When I turn 21 I plan on getting a bounty hunting license and a concealed weapons license. The concealed weapons license costs around 200 - 300 $ USD and all that is required it paying the money and taking a 7 hour class, in which you be given a test and must pass the test to get the license.

The bounty hunting license I'm not as sure about. I know you also have to take a "class" and a test, but I have no clue on the cost of the class/test or how many hours or how many "classes" you have to go to before being able to get the license.

 

You can get a high quality pump action big brand shotgun for $200 (often less) USD . Criminals tend to not buy from big stores in the states (or any stores for that matter) because stores have a backround check (in every state its federal law) and a waiting period to purchase the actual gun. Most people acquire their guns from weird loopholes, namely "Gun Shows". Gun shows let ANYONE with a picture id by a gun legally (regardless of their backround ect) purchase used (used is an important part of the loophole for regular civilians being able to sell to anyone as to sell new firearms you need a FFL license) firearms instantly, also ANYONE can sell a gun at a gun show legally without license. Its essentially a swap meet or flea market with guns, as long as you arent selling in bulk or something small arms sales between two parties are perfectly legal and a gun show is just a big gathering of people abusing this loophole. These take place every weekend all across the US and are advertised on billboards in the paper ect. Its REALLY easy to get guns, its amazing there arent MORE mass shootings. Im not against the right for people to own firearms, but im all for a less lenient system. You often see gangbanger looking types handling submachine guns looking to purchase at gunshows (fully automatics arent legal ANYWHERE in the states without a very expensive and strict federal license but anyone who is mechanically inclined in the slightest and with access to the internet can find out how to make a semi automatic fully automatic. Typically all you need is a screwdriver and a file) the type of people you see buying at gunshows varies greatly as there are great deals there for anyone interested in buying a firearm, it varies from single moms, gangbangers and old men but the criminal element is often all to obvious and unsettling. Its beyond easy to get a gun. Also all ammunition requires the buyer be atleast 18 (in most states though some are higher, minimum age is 18 by federal law) anyone getting some at a younger age is being sold too illegally by a careless seller.

As to grimm saying you can buy rocket launchers at the gun shows or fairs as he called them, thats complete ant total bullshit in my experience and my dad has been selling guns for years . However you can get grenade launcher attachments for many military surplus weapons and deactivated grenades ect and could POSSIBLY get a completely deactivated RPG launcher given its moving parts were cut with a torch, they also sell military fully automatic weapons kits cut with a torch needing machine work to assemble and make functional (not practical for a criminal its mostly collectors who take the time and money to restore these deactivated milsurp guns) Military surplus (all foreign) is able to sell some grey area type stuff as long as no actual explosives are sold and the weapons (aside from standard firearms) are missing a vital part for its functionality (leaving us with another loophole for ANYONE to get firearms as if the gun is missing its receiver it is not considered a gun, as such can be purchased by anyone. You can then order the missing part offline without a hitch.)

 

This is very true. I have been to numerous gun shows in my life because my grandfather is an avid firearms collector. You can go there and see people just lining the streets with guns. Hell, we were leaving once and a guy offered my grandfather a very nice antique rifle for a great deal and he bought it right there. It is very easy to get a gun in the US. I love shooting for sport, but I don't hunt or anything just target shooting. I don't think that guns should be as easily accessible as they are.

 

Second ammendment. Right to bear arms. That's the u.s. in a nutshell.