Disclaimer: Ibis Training Group does not offer legal advice. This page is for educational purposes only.
The United States
Federally, there are a number of laws that everyone is beholden to. You do not need to memorize these, and most are related to purchasing a firearm.
National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA)
“NFA” items are additionally restricted. They include machine guns such as automatic assault rifles, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, silencers/suppressors, destructive devices like grenades and bombs, as well as “Any Other Weapons” (AOWs). AOWs are really quite odd and you are unlikely to ever run into one. NFA items require fingerprinting, photographing, and additional background check and paperwork filed with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Federal Firearms Act of 1938
Requires all firearms manufacturers, importers, and dealers to have a Federal Firearm License and prevents felons from owning firearms.
Gun Control Act of 1968
Along with the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, prohibits you from buying a firearm outside of your state, and increased minimum age of handgun purchasing to 21.
Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986
Prohibits the sale of machine guns and automatic weapons to regular people. Only military branches, police departments, and special classes of FFL holders can purchase or manufacture machine guns. Every legal machine gun or automatic weapon in civilian hands today was manufactured before 1986, and almost always costs tens of thousands of dollars.
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993
Requires background checks on firearm purchases.
Form 4473
You will always fill out a 4473 anytime you purchase a firearm. It’s effectively an affidavit/background check combination form. You provide identifying information that will be run through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) that will give your FFL dealer a “go/no-go” for selling you the firearm. The affidavit portion confirms that:
- You are the actual buyer of the firearm, and not buying for someone else. Buying for someone else is a crime.
- You are not under indictment for a felony.
- You have never been convicted of a felony.
- You are not a fugitive from justice.
- You are not an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic, or other controlled substance.
- You have never been adjudicated as a mental defective, nor have you ever been committed to a mental institution.
- You have never been dishonorably discharged from the military.
- You are not subject to a court order for harassment, stalking, or threatening your child, intimate partner, or child of an intimate partner.
- Are a US Citizen, National, or legal Resident Alien. If you are a legal resident alien, you will need to provide your Alien or Admission number (AR#, USCIS#, or I94#).
- Have never renounced your US citizenship.
State and Local
The Kansas City area is generally friendly to firearm ownership, but because we fall on the border of two states we need to know the laws of both. Keep in mind all federal laws still applied, this is in addition to federal laws. In both Kansas and Missouri, the state:
- Does not require a permit to purchase a firearm.
- Does not require registration of firearms.
- Does not require a license to own a firearm.
- Recognizes Constitutional Carry, and does not require a permit to open carry a firearm or conceal a pistol.
- Issues permits on a shall-issue basis.
Other things to know
Shall-Issue vs May-Issue
Shall-Issue states require that as long as an individual has met the requirements, the issuing body shall issue them a permit to carry a firearm. May-Issue states give ultimate authority to the issuing body, meaning that even if you meet all the requirements, the local Sheriff can deny you your right to carry.
If both MO and KS have Constitutional Carry, why get a Permit?
Both MO and KS have Constitutional Carry, meaning that you don’t need a permit to carry a firearm. However, not all states recognize this, and so if you travel you will almost certainly need a carry permit that is recognized by the state you travel to. Think of a carry permit as a driver’s license. It’s issued by your home state, and is recognized by other states. The difference is that unlike driver’s licenses, carry permits are not honored by all states.