Can you buy a gun in the US if you're not a citizen?
Asked by: Prof. Ivy Runolfsdottir V | Last update: April 5, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (9 votes)
Yes, some non-citizens can buy guns in the U.S., but it's complex, requiring lawful permanent residency (Green Card) or meeting specific exceptions like holding a valid hunting license/permit, being a foreign government official, or having lawful status for sport/hunting, with requirements varying by state and federal law. Lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) generally can buy guns like citizens, but non-immigrant visa holders (temporary visitors) face strict rules and usually need an exception to possess or purchase firearms, often requiring an export arrangement, unless they establish state residency and meet specific criteria.
Can you buy a gun if you're not a US citizen?
If you have a green card, you are not considered a prohibited person under § 922(g), and may legally purchase and possess firearms—assuming you are not disqualified for other reasons (e.g., felony conviction, mental health, unlawful drug use).
Can an undocumented person own a gun?
Like the former § 12021(a), the current § 29800 prohibits “owning” a firearm. and “destructive devices.” 8 USC 1227(a)(2)(C). (Being convicted of a firearms offense, at a time when one is in fact undocumented, is not an aggravated felony if the undocumented status is not an element of the offense.)
Who can legally buy a gun in the US?
Must be 21 to purchase any firearm.
Who cannot legally own a gun in the US?
convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; who is a fugitive from justice; who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act, codified at 21 U.S.C. § 802);
Do Noncitizens Have Gun Rights?
What is the freest gun state?
There isn't one single "freest" gun state, as rankings vary, but New Hampshire, Wyoming, Arizona, Montana, South Dakota, and Arkansas consistently rank among the most gun-friendly due to permitless carry, minimal taxes on firearms, strong self-defense laws, and general pro-2A policies, with states like Wyoming having high gun ownership and New Hampshire being a top choice for its low regulation and tax-free status.
How many guns can a US citizen legally own?
There is no limit on the number of firearms you may own if you are otherwise eligible to possess firearms under California and federal law.
Does the 2nd Amendment apply to non-citizens?
The Seventh Circuit applied the Fourth Amendment Verdugo–Urquidez substantial connections test to the Second Amendment context. So long as undocumented immigrants in the United States have developed substantial connections with the United States, the Second Amendment confers to them a right to bear arms.
What are the five rules of owning a gun?
THE SIX BASIC GUN SAFETY RULES
- Treat all guns as if they are loaded. ...
- Keep the gun pointed in the safest possible direction. ...
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. ...
- Know your target, its surroundings and beyond. ...
- Know how to properly operate your gun.
How easy is it to buy a firearm in the USA?
Most states in the U.S. make it relatively easy to buy a gun. Some states make the process even easier with tax exemptions, NICS background check bypasses, and reduced age requirements for buyers. While federal laws apply to all FFL dealers and transactions, it's up to the states to impose more restrictions.
Can I go to a gun range if I'm not a citizen?
Yes, foreigners can often go to shooting ranges in the U.S., especially as tourists, but they need a valid passport and must meet specific legal requirements, often falling under the Visa Waiver Program or having a valid U.S. hunting license, though policies vary by range and state, with some ranges being more restrictive.
Can DACA own a gun?
According to the USCIS memo, DACA recipients don't have valid status for purchasing firearms per the rules of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). DACA recipients caught purchasing firearms face removal of parole protections.
Can a visitor buy a gun in America?
Under the provisions of 27 CFR 178.97, non-immigrant aliens are prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms and ammunition while in the United States unless they are a citizen or national of the Visa Waiver Program (below) or meet any ONE of the below listed exceptions in section 922(y)(2) of the GCA.
Can foreigners shoot guns in America?
A nonimmigrant alien that possesses a valid hunting license from a state within the United States, or falls within any of the other exceptions or exemptions that allow nonimmigrant aliens to possess firearms, may rent firearms to hunt or to use at a shooting range.
What is the 26 pistol rule?
The "26 pistol rule" refers to an old ATF guideline where an AR-style pistol over 26 inches in overall length (OAL) wasn't considered a concealable "Any Other Weapon" (AOW), allowing vertical foregrips without NFA registration; however, this loophole was closed by ATF regulations (2023R-08F) making braced pistols with OAL under 26 inches AOWs, but courts have since blocked enforcement, leaving the legality of braced firearms in flux and generally requiring NFA registration or modification to avoid being classified as an SBR if under 26 inches.
How many guns are privately owned in the US?
What is the problem? There are an estimated 393 million civilian-owned firearms in the United States. With gun ownership comes responsibility.
Why is gun ownership good?
Owning a firearm provides protection for yourself, your family, and your property. Protecting yourself and your loved ones is a basic human right, and possessing a firearm provides a big advantage or, at the very least, helps even the playing field against those who intend to do you harm.
What right is denied to a noncitizen in the United States?
The primary right denied to noncitizens in the U.S. is the right to vote in federal elections, alongside restrictions on holding federal office, while they retain many fundamental constitutional protections like due process, free speech (with nuances in political spending), and protection from unreasonable searches, though immigration status significantly affects their rights and ability to remain in the country.
Do you need U.S. citizenship to get a gun?
An alien legally in the U.S. is not prohibited from purchasing firearms unless the alien is admitted into the U.S. under a nonimmigrant visa and does not meet one of the exceptions as provided in 18 U.S.C. 922(y)(2), such as possession of a valid hunting license or permit.
Do immigrants get more welfare than U.S. citizens?
No, research consistently shows that immigrants, particularly non-citizens, use welfare and entitlement programs at lower rates per capita than native-born U.S. citizens, consuming less in benefits like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and food assistance, though naturalized citizens use more due to their older age. While overall immigrant welfare use is lower, households with immigrant parents and U.S.-born citizen children might show higher rates because benefits often go to the children.
What country owns the most guns?
The United States has the highest rate of civilian gun ownership by a significant margin, with over 120 guns per 100 residents, meaning more firearms than people, followed distantly by countries like Yemen, Kurdistan, and Falkland Islands in terms of per capita figures, while countries like India and China have large total numbers but lower per capita rates, according to data from the Small Arms Survey and other sources.
Who can legally own a gun in the US?
Under federal law, individuals must be 18+ years old to purchase a long gun and 21+ to purchase a handgun.
What is the Trump National Firearms Act?
1, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025, has removed the $200 manufacturing and transfer tax for suppressors, short barreled rifles, short barreled shotguns, and AOW's, although the $200 tax remains for machine guns and destructive devices.
What is the hardest state to buy a gun in?
Report Highlights:
- Hawaii is the #1 worst state for gun owners due to strict purchasing and carry laws, as well as defying the Supreme Court on the individual's right to carry.
- Massachusetts is the #2 worst state for gun owners due to its permit-to-purchase and reciprocity laws.