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In an interview last month with Field & Stream’s Editor-in-Chief Anthony Licata, Vice President Joe Biden expressed surprise that it costs more than “about 14 bucks” in some states and many individual jurisdictions to legally own a firearm.
Biden, apparently, did not realize 21 states and many counties/cities conduct their own beyond-NICS checks for all gun sales, issue their own permits, compile their own gun registries and levy their own fees.
In fact, in five states, it can cost anywhere from $5 to $100 just to be “eligible” to purchase or possess a firearm. In states with weak pre-emption laws, such as Illinois, New York, local governments can impose layers of permitting or licensing fees on residents before they can legally own any type of firearm, including long guns.
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So, in some places, legally owning any type of firearm can be an expensive proposition. For instance, according to IllinoisCarry.com, the initial cost to legally own a firearm—even a shotgun—in Chicago ranges up to $900. New York City residents must purchase a $140 shotgun/rifle permit to legally own a long gun.
At least 17 states and numerous municipalities impose additional layers of permitting and licensing fees on residents before they can legally purchase a handgun.
Costs for a first-time applicant to receive a concealed weapons permit or license to carry, including background check, can vary from zero in Alaska, Arizona, Wyoming and Vermont—where concealed carry is legal without a permit—to $250 in Providence, R.I, to almost $450 in New York City and up to $480 in some California counties.
So, what does it cost to purchase and possess firearms in various jurisdictions across the nation?
PERMIT TO PURCHASE
Long guns: Five states and many municipalities require a permit or license to purchase any firearm, including long guns, ranging from $5 for a lifetime Firearms Identification card (FID) in New Jersey to a $100 FID in Massachusetts, good for six years. In Rhode Island, all prospective firearms buyers must first present proof they’ve completed and passed a safety exam to receive a free “blue card” allowing purchase. In Hawaii, to buy a firearm, purchasers must receive a 10-day permit to purchase a handgun and one-year permit to acquire a long gun.
In Illinois, residents need a state-issued $10 Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card to purchase or possess any firearm and ammunition. The FOID is valid for 10 years, but local municipalities in Illinois, such as Chicago, can impose further requirements at the point of purchase for long guns.
New York presents the most extreme examples of locally-imposed vagaries. There is no statewide permit required to buy a long gun but local municipalities, most notably New York City, can require licenses and permits to purchase and possess any type of firearm.
In Minnesota, buyers need a 30-day permit to purchase “military-style assault weapons” through a FFL dealer or a private transfer between individuals, but not for any other type of long gun.
Handguns: In addition to the five states—New Jersey, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Illinois—and many municipalities that impose permitting or licensing requirements on residents before they can legally purchase any type of firearm, at least 12 other states and various local governments regulate handgun sales with precursory permitting and licensing stipulations beyond the standard NCIS-FBI background check.
In New Hampshire and New York, residents must already have a concealed carry permit to legally purchase a handgun. North Carolina, Minnesota, Connecticut, South Dakota, Iowa, and Maryland requires residents without concealed carry permits secure a permit and complete training courses before legally buying a handgun.
In California, all handgun purchases require a $25 Handgun Safety Certificate. In Michigan, a locally issued free, 30-day license is required to purchase handguns. In Nebraska, a $5 certificate is necesssary to legally purchase a handgun.
In South Dakota, residents without a concealed weapons permit must file an application to purchase a handgun and submit it for approval to local police.
REQUIRED REGISTRATION
Long guns: California and Hawaii require registration of all firearm sales. In Hawaii, all firearms must be registered with local law enforcement within five days of purchase or 72 hours of arrival on the islands, serviceable or not.
California law stipulates that long gun serial numbers are not recorded, only the sale. Legally defined assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles listed by make and model by the California Department of Justice must also be registered.
In Illinois and New York, weak state pre-emption laws allow municipalities to impose registration of all firearms, including long guns. Chicago, for instance, requires registration of all firearms for a one-time fee of $15 each. In New York City, all firearms must be registered with the NYPD.
Since enactment of the New York Safe Act, all grandfathered operable “assault” style rifles and shotguns purchased prior to Jan. 15, 2013, must be registered by Jan. 15, 2014.
Handguns: At least 14 states and dozens of municipalities mandate handgun registries beyond federal record-keeping requirements. State agencies in California, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington retain their own records of all handgun sales and transfers. In some states, such as Alabama and North Carolina, local law enforcement agencies document all handgun transfers.
Hawaii, Michigan, and New York are among states that require all handguns in pri
