Of course it is illegal to privately own a handgun in the UK. You can own a shotgun, but you must be licenced and the police will check you out to make sure you’re not a nut.
We have Asda in the UK, which is now owned by Wal Mart. From what I have heard, Wal Mart in the USA sell guns. If I go to Asda I might buy some bread, milk etc. If I went to Wal Mart in the USA, could I also pick up a 9mm automatic and some ammunition?
What kind of checks are carried out by the shop staff, and do the police check you out before you can buy a gun?
So say I’ve just purchased my gun. Could I then take it home with me straight away? Why is it on Cops on TV, if the police find a gun in someones pocket or in their car, they’re immediately handcuffed? If its legal to purchase guns, then why isn’t it legal to carry them around with you - or must they be kept at home all the time?
Also, are there parts of the USA where you can carry a gun unconcealed? How does that work? You can’t tell me that people can walk around carrying unconcealed guns without scaring the shit out of people who may have a nervous disposition (including cops and bank clerks).
Gun laws very by state, so where and how you buy a gun differs. I haven’t been to a Wal-Mart sporting goods section in a long while, but I don’t think you can still buy handguns in most of them, only shotguns and rifles (I could be wrong). You can still buy the ammo for them, however.
With handguns (I don’t know about shotguns or rifles), there’s a waiting period before you can take your weapon home with you. I think the intended purpose is to 1) do a background check, and 2) make sure you weren’t just buying a gun because you got into a heated argument.
In many places, carrying unconcealed is the only way to legally carry. Many states allow citizens to carry concealed, probably with a license in most cases. In Texas, we have to attend a class and pay license fees to carry concealed. There are still places where it’s illegal to carry a weapon (most financial institutions and places that sell or serve alcohol, for example).
Gun laws are quite complex and varied, so it’s not really easy to answer the question definitively. I’m sure some people with a lot more experience will be along to explain more.
A form is filled out and a federal background check is done via the ATF
If you pass the criminal check you can carry it home “straightaway”
Laws vary from state to state, but here (my state) you certainly can carry in your car if it’s not concealed or loaded.
I can carry my AK-47 (and sometimes do) down the street as long as it’s not loaded. And yes tourists may get nervous. But if you’re from here it’s not entirely unusual to see .However if I tried that in California the S.W.A.T. team may be deployed.
Walmart sells long guns (rifles and shotguns) not handguns. Sales of any firearms in the US are subject to instant computerized background checks and may also be subject to local and state laws regarding waiting periods, etc.
I live in Connecticut, and I have a handgun permit issued by the state. In order to get that permit, I had to submit to a background check including a fingerprint check with the Connecticut State Police and US FBI. Even though I passed those background checks, I still have to submit to another background check at the point of purchase before I could buy a 9mm automatic and a box of cartridges. In my state, however, once that background check is completed, yes, I could walk out the door with my 9mm and ammo. The firearm, however, can’t go out the door without a trigger lock or other securing device.
In other jurisdictions with stricter gun laws, it would be impossible to walk in, buy a gun, and walk out. There are states with mandantory waiting periods. Some states require handgun permits. A few do not allow you to carry a concealed weapon at all.
There are a few jurisdictions where “open carry” is permitted. I don’t know how this is handled, because I’ve never lived in an area where that is allowed. You can get extensive information about handgun laws in the various states at this website (packing.org). You will be able to read the jurisdictional laws and rules, and read forums, but not post if you are not registered. Registering there may be worth it to you, though, because questions there are nearly always answered in a thoughtful and timely manner.
Vermont has no restriction on carrying a handgun, concealed or open. You don’t need a permit. There are some specific locations where you are not allowed to carry (schools, etc.) , but overall, you can carry a piece at will.
Tony Motana’s ‘little friend’ , the AK-47, is most probably a semi-automatic only weapon made for the civillian market. Real civillian AK-47s are rare in the US due to numerous laws and fees (including an old import ban) concerning machine gun ownership by civillians.
FWIW, I am under the impression that Alaska Wal-Marts continue to sell handguns and cool rifles (AR-15s).
AFAIK one can also own rifles, black powder handguns, and some regular handguns with ENORMOUSLY long barrels in the UK.
I was under the clear impression that Sr. Montana’s “Little Friend” was an M-16A1 with an M-203 40mm grenade launcher strapped underneath. (Total weapon known as M-203).
In California there is a ten-day waiting period for all guns in addition to the BATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) background check. It used to be a 15-day waiting period. A lot of people who were told by police that they had to protect themselves, as the police didn’t have the manpower to do it, were shocked to learn that they could not buy a gun right now to protect themselves during the L.A. riots. (Probably a good thing, since they might not have had a clue how to work one.)
Federal law mandates that no one under the age of 18 can own any firearm, and no one under the age of 21 can own a handgun.
Concealed-carry laws vary not only by state, but also by county. FOr example if you live in L.A. County, you are extremely unlikely to obtain a CCL no matter how squeaky-clean you are, or how great your need. However, I think that if you live in a county that grants CCLs you can carry a firearm anywhere in the state (except prohibited areas like banks and pubs, as mentioned before).
I know that you used to be able to carry a firearm openly in unincorporated areas, but I don’t know if that’s been changed. IIRC, the criterion was that the firearm could not be covered on three sides. That might be interpreted by a hard-nosed cop that you could not have it in a holster. When I was visiting New Orleans I was told that any firearm, loaded or not, that is carried in a vehicle must be in plain sight.
I’ve bought black powder firearms through the mail. Since they do not fire fixed ammunition, they are not considered “firearms” for the purpose of interstate commerce. However, you wouldn’t want to walk around L.A. with one! They count as “firearms” for the purpose of carrying them.
So to answer the OP directly: It’s possible that you could walk into a shop, buy a gun, and walk out with it; but not everywhere.
Oh, about the M203. The grenade launcher is not legal to own unless you undergo a background check, pay the fee, get the license, and live in a state that allows it – just like a machine gun or a silencer. You can, however, get a “look-alike” flare launcher that fits under the barrel of an AR-15 type rifle or carbine.
In New York, you can purchase long guns (rifles, shotguns) immediately, except within New York City, where a permit is required. (One of very few jurisdictions that requires permits for long guns.)
You must have a permit to carry a handgun in New York, but permits issued outside the City are not valid inside. It is very difficult, but not impossible, to get a handgun permit in New York City.
The law, as written, has been struck down by the state supreme court as being unconstitutional. So either they need to write a new law next January that will pass muster or there needs to be a consitutional change.
, the AK-47, is most probably a semi-automatic only weapon made for the civillian market. Real civillian AK-47s are rare in the US due to numerous laws and fees (including an old import ban) concerning machine gun ownership by civillians.