# How I bought a gun? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 3, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216 "2012-01-03T02:19:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bannedit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Bannedit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bannedit)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/1 "2012-01-03T02:19:07Z")
GQ material… wait for it. On the TV show “How I Met Your Mother”, Robin is a Canadian (she later becomes an American citizen) living in New York City. She is also a gun nut and is seen with guns in her home. I’m assuming that she isn’t borrowing them and that they are registered in her name. Can a foreigner own a gun in New York (or any other state, for that matter)? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/2 "2012-01-03T02:34:27Z")
A lawful permanent resident may own and posses firearms in the USA. To purchase firearms they must also be a resident of the state in which they are buying it. The state resident rule also applies to citizens, so that isn’t unique to aliens. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/3 "2012-01-03T02:38:43Z")
> [@Bannedit](#): > > GQ material… wait for it. > > On the TV show “How I Met Your Mother”, Robin is a Canadian (she later becomes an American citizen) living in New York City. She is also a gun nut and is seen with guns in her home. I’m assuming that she isn’t borrowing them and that they are registered in her name. > > Can a foreigner own a gun in New York (or any other state, for that matter)? New York City (where I believe “How I Met Your Mother” is set) is a bit different than the rest of the country. It’s very, very hard to get a permit for a handgun. It’s pretty much impossible to get a permit to carry a gun, and, from what I understand, almost as hard to get a permit to keep a handgun in your home. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/4 "2012-01-03T02:46:29Z")
> [@Bannedit](#): > > GQ material… wait for it. > > On the TV show “How I Met Your Mother”, Robin is a Canadian (she later becomes an American citizen) living in New York City. She is also a gun nut and is seen with guns in her home. I’m assuming that she isn’t borrowing them and that they are registered in her name. > > Can a foreigner own a gun in New York (or any other state, for that matter)? New York City (where I believe “How I Met Your Mother” is set) is a bit different than the rest of the country. It’s very, very hard to get a permit for a handgun. It’s pretty much impossible to get a permit to carry a gun, and, from what I understand, almost as hard to get a permit to keep a handgun in your home. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/5 "2012-01-03T03:37:56Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > New York City (where I believe “How I Met Your Mother” is set) is a bit different than the rest of the country. > > It’s very, very hard to get a permit for a handgun. It’s pretty much impossible to get a permit to carry a gun, and, from what I understand, almost as hard to get a permit to keep a handgun in your home. New York city, where the posts are so nice, they make them twice. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/6 "2012-01-03T03:51:12Z")
As indicated, New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago and a few other places make it difficult for most people to own handguns legally. That may change based on a rather recent Supreme Court decision that threatens some of these quasi-bans and the right lawsuits go through the process. However, in most of the U.S., a law abiding citizen or permanent resident can own handguns as long as they go through the correct procedures which often includes some minimum degree of training. That varies by state and sometimes locality. If the show were set anywhere else in the U.S., it would be completely believable. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/7 "2012-01-03T04:57:29Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > A lawful permanent resident may own and posses firearms in the USA. To purchase firearms they must also be a resident of the state in which they are buying it. The state resident rule also applies to citizens, so that isn’t unique to aliens. Pretty much true for handguns, not so much for long guns. In general, long guns may be purchased in non resident states. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/8 "2012-01-03T05:15:22Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > New York City (where I believe “How I Met Your Mother” is set) is a bit different than the rest of the country. > > It’s very, very hard to get a permit for a handgun. It’s pretty much impossible to get a permit to carry a gun, and, from what I understand, almost as hard to get a permit to keep a handgun in your home. As difficult as it may be to get a permit in NYC, a non-citizen legal immigrant is no more restricted from the permit than a citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/9 "2012-01-03T14:08:24Z")
Maybe Robin lived in Dallas, TX for a while, where she purchased her handguns, before moving to NYC. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/10 "2012-01-03T14:12:56Z")
I’m willing to believe she bought them while living in Canada, where (depending on province and city,) it’s probably easier to buy them than NYC. She’s also shown to not be the most responsible gun owner (she thought she lost her .38 snub-nosed policeman’s special, but she really just left it at an ex-boyfriend’s place…but then she really DID lose it,) so it wouldn’t surprise me if she just didn’t bother with a permit for concealed carry. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/11 "2012-01-03T14:46:39Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > It’s very, very hard to get a permit for a handgun. It’s pretty much impossible to get a permit to carry a gun, and, from what I understand, almost as hard to get a permit to keep a handgun in your home. I was under the impression that in NYC, a carry permit was very hard to get, but that a premises permit (at home and to the range only) was fairly straightforward; almost shall-issue. Perhaps a New Yorker can chime in. If not, NYC will go the way of D.C. and Chicago and spend tax payer money in a meaningless effort to enforce that law. I haven’t seen the new Chicago law, but the new D.C. law is absurd in the number of hoops that you must go through, but if you are persistent, you will get a premises permit. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/12 "2012-01-03T15:01:47Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Pretty much true for handguns, not so much for long guns. In general, long guns may be purchased in non resident states. Long guns and handguns cannot be purchased by a non-resident. If you are out of state and see a firearm you just have to have provided its not under the Curio & Relic listing, One could purchase it but it would then have to be shipped to a licensed firearms dealer in your home state. In the Original Post, Is this suppose to be true life situation, Reality? Or is TV drama real life in NYC? ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/13 "2012-01-03T15:54:50Z")
Gbro, it’s a CBS sitcom, so you can bet they’ll make up whatever the hell they want. Facts be damned. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/14 "2012-01-03T16:43:01Z")
Personally I think the fact that characters live in Manhattan and often have crappy jobs, but have huge apartments is already fantasy enough. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/15 "2012-01-03T16:46:06Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > Personally I think the fact that characters live in Manhattan and often have crappy jobs, but have huge apartments is already fantasy enough. Not to mention the amount of time they spend in New York surrounded almost exclusively by tall, very pretty white people. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/16 "2012-01-03T17:44:30Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > New York city, where the posts are so nice, they make them twice. In Mother Russia, guns register owners !!! ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/17 "2012-01-03T18:16:27Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Maybe Robin lived in Dallas, TX for a while, where she purchased her handguns, before moving to NYC. I’m under the impression that you can’t possess the handgun in NYC (barring permits, of course) so buying it and bringing it in would be illegal, too. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/18 "2012-01-03T18:21:26Z")
> [@Gbro](#): > > Long guns and handguns cannot be purchased by a non-resident. If you are out of state and see a firearm you just have to have provided its not under the Curio & Relic listing, One could purchase it but it would then have to be shipped to a licensed firearms dealer in your home state. Not quite. Federal law allows you to purchase a long gun (rifle or shotgun) from a licensed dealer at his place of business outside your state of residence, and bring it back home in person. [From the ATF website](http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/unlicensed-persons.html#gca-unlicensed-acquire): > [@](#): > > A person may only acquire a firearm within the person’s own State, except that he or she may purchase or otherwise acquire a rifle or shotgun, in person, at a licensee’s premises in any State, provided the sale complies with State laws applicable in the State of sale and the State where the purchaser resides. A person may borrow or rent a firearm in any State for temporary use for lawful sporting purposes. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/19 "2012-01-03T18:22:37Z")
It’s almost as impossible to get a pistol in Canada as in NYC. (legally) ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216/20 "2012-01-03T18:44:03Z")
Several states, including New York, allow the purchase of long guns (rifles and shotguns) in contiguous states. If you pass the NICS background check in the state you make the purchase you can just take it accross the border home with you. I live in Oregon and have bought several rifles in neighboring Washington, after a few minutes waiting for the NICS background check I put them in my car and drive home. I can also buy rifles in California, Nevada and Idaho. > [@](#): > > NEW YORK > May purchase long-guns only in Connecticut, Massachusetts, > Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Vermont17 From this PDF file here: [http://www.nssf.org/factsheets/PDF/ContiguousStateRestrict.pdf](http://www.nssf.org/factsheets/PDF/ContiguousStateRestrict.pdf) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-i-bought-a-gun/608216.md?page=2)