How to Buy a Gun

Buying a gun generally isn’t difficult, but can take some time depending on the type of firearm you want to purchase and where you live.

I will be explaining the processes for purchase in Minnesota as an example, of which the processes are middle of the road for restrictiveness. This will exhibit the conventional processes you will see if you wanted to buy a gun from a traditional brick and mortar gun store FFL (Federal Firearm License, the license required to transfer firearms), but these will apply almost identically for online purchases, gun show purchases, or purchases at a home FFL. Private transfers are a different process, depending on whether you are transferring from a direct family member, or anyone else.

How to buy a gun through a FFL

As a prerequisite, you must know if you have your rights to own a firearm. If you know you are considered a prohibited person, you will be unable to purchase and posses a firearm with these described methods.

What kind of gun to do you want?

First, you must consider what kind of firearm you are buying. For a manually operated long gun, like bolt action rifles, lever action guns, or pump action shotguns, you will simply need your driver’s license or state issued I.D. to purchase that type of firearm. So assuming you drove to a gun store that day with your non-expired driver’s license that has your current address, you have all the paperwork necessary to buy your desired long gun.

For pistols (both large format pistols, and handguns), some shotguns, and any “semiautomatic military-style assault weapon” (SAMSAW), you will need your state issued I.D. and a permit to purchase. A permit to carry also counts as permit to purchase. Additionally, both documents must contain your current address, be non-expired, and match.

Now that you’ve figured out the type of firearm you want to buy, you will simply ask the gun store employee to buy that firearm, they will take your I.D. (and permit to purchase, if necessary) for scanning, and you will fill in your ATF Form 4473. Your 4473 will then be submitted for a background check, which will either prodice a ‘proceed’/’go ahead’ action, a delay, or a denial. With a ‘proceed’/’go ahead’ action, you will simply pay and take your firearm with you. If you have a delay, and the store follows the Brady act, then you will simply have to wait a period of time (typically 3-5 days) to allow the FBI to present any proof to deny your purchase. If they cannot find proof in that time, you will be able to return to the gun store, pay, and pick up your firearm. If you are denied (either immediately or after receiving a delay action) or the FFL does not follow the brady act, then you will not be able to take your firearm and the transaction will stop. Additionally, as of October 1, 2022, Federal law dictates that the FBI must inform your local law enforcement of your name and home address in the incident that a delay or denial action occurred during your background check.

Getting a permit to purchase

Up to this point, you’re likely eligible to buy a manual long gun. However, if you’re interested in pistols or SAMSAW’s (which I facetiously refer to as ‘scary looking guns’), then you have noted that you will also need a permit to purchase (PTP) or permit to carry (PTC). A permit to purchase is a paper card that allows an unlimited number of purchases up to one (1) calendar year from the date of issue. A permit to carry is a plastic card that allows an unlimited number of purchases up to five (5) calendar years from the date of issue.

How to get a Permit to Purchase vs a Permit to Carry

To acquire a PTP, you will simply apply as your local law enforcement agency. This is typically your county sheriff’s office. This application is free and can take up to a maximum of 30 days from the date of application. Prior to August 2023, the maximum wait was 7 days. You will receive a letter from the law enforcement agency of your denial or approval for your permit to purchase along with permit itself.

To acquire a PTC, you will first need to find and complete an authorized Permit to Carry course. These are typically held at local gun stores, or through a licensed firearms instructor. Courses generally cost around $75. These courses cover legal liability and have a short course of fire. The course of fire are generally around 25 rounds shot into a full size silhouette at ranges up to 15 yards. Upon successful completion of that course, you will receive a certificate of completion that is valid for one (1) year that you will need to bring to the sheriff’s office of your county. There you will give your certificate of completion, fill in your application, and pay an application fee (typically around $100). Similar to the PTP, you will receive a letter from the law enforcement agency of your denial or approval for your permit to carry along with permit itself.

Gun show’s will follow the process as stated as well. For buying a gun online, you will simply buy the gun from the online store, have your local gun store and online store share FFL information, and wait until your firearm arrives at your local gun store. You will then follow the pre-described processes for purchase.

FAQ

What’s the difference between a normal gun store and a home based FFL?

Not much. A normal gun store will likely have more inventory and services, but from a consumer perspective, the process is identical. Instead of being in an open store, you might be buying out of someone’s garage.

How do I fill in the 4473?

These can be done on a computer or on paper forms, depending on what the FFL has available.

So what’s the overall timeline to buy a gun?

Assuming your I.D. has your current address and isn’t expired, for manually operated long guns, it’s the same day so long as the store is open and you have money to give. For a ‘scary looking gun’, you will probably need around 40 days to find, complete, and apply for a permit to carry, or at most 30 days for a permit to purchase.

What’s the difference between a purchase and a transfer?

The purchase is the exchange of money between the buyer and seller. So when buying a gun online, you only need your billing information and the store you are going to pick up the gun from. The transfer is the actual process of completing an ATF Form 4473 and getting a background check.

So yes, anyone can buy anyone online, but you can only transfer and take possession after a background check at your local gun store.