Kentucky operates as a shall-issue, permitless carry state where licenses are processed by the State Police.
Utah is a shall-issue state. Permits are issued by the Bureau of Criminal Identification.
There is no permit, background check, or firearms registration required when buying a handgun from a private individual. However, Salt Lake County has established a policy requiring background checks for private sales at the county's three event facilities: Salt Palace Convention Center, Mountain America Expo Center, and Salt Lake County Equestrian Park.
On March 24, 2022, Governor Spencer Cox signed SB 115 into law, giving the state greater control over gun laws in Utah. This law allows the state to override policies established by local authorities, including the Salt Lake County policy enacted in 2019. The law went into effect on July 1, 2022.
Nebraska is a shall-issue, permitless carry state. Permits are issued by the State Patrol Department.
A handgun certificate or concealed carry permit is required for all handgun purchases, including private sales. Omaha mandates handgun registration, but permit holders are exempt.
North Dakota operates as a shall-issue state for concealed carry permits, with law enforcement possessing discretion in cases involving perceived risks to public safety. The state's attorney general oversees the issuance of concealed carry licenses.
- No permits, registration, or background checks are mandated for private handgun sales in North Dakota.
- Residents with a Concealed Weapon License (CWL) and non-residents with a valid resident concealed carry license from a recognized state can legally open carry handguns. Minimum age requirement is 18, with certain restricted areas such as bars.
Vermont is a constitutional carry state where permits are not required.
All gun sales must be completed through a licensed firearms dealer unless the transfer is to a family member. Buyers under 21 years old must have completed a Vermont hunters course (or equivalent) or be a member or former member of the military, National Guard, or law enforcement. Vermont does not require permits to purchase firearms and has no firearms registration.
Ohio is a shall-issue state where concealed handgun licenses are issued at the county level by a county sheriff. No permit, background check, or firearms registration is required when buying a handgun from a private individual.
Iowa is a shall-issue, permitless carry state. There are two types of permits available. Professional permits are issued to individuals at least 18 years of age who are employed in a capacity that reasonably justifies that person going armed. Non-professional permits are issued to individuals at least 21 years of age who meet permit requirements, including training.
As of July 1, 2021, to acquire a pistol or revolver from a federally licensed firearms dealer, an unlicensed person must have a valid permit to acquire, a valid permit to carry weapons, or must complete a satisfactory national instant criminal background check. There is no waiting period or firearms registration in the state.
Maine operates as a shall-issue, permitless carry state, where concealed weapons permits are issued by the Department of Public Safety through the Maine State Police.
There is no requirement for a permit, background check, or firearms registration when purchasing a handgun from a private individual in Maine.
Open and concealed carry are legal in Maine without a permit. Individuals aged 21 or older, or at least 18 and active duty or honorably discharged military personnel, who can legally possess a firearm, are allowed to carry openly or concealed. Maine also issues permits for reciprocity purposes.
New Jersey operates as a shall-issue state for concealed weapons permits, with permits issued locally by municipal police departments or the NJ State Police. Applicants must secure approval from their local police chief and subsequently present their application to a superior court judge.
To purchase a handgun from a private individual, New Jersey residents must possess a Firearms Purchaser Identification (FPID) card and undergo a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) through a licensed firearms dealer. All purchases, whether from a dealer or a private seller, require a copy of the purchase permit sent to the NJ State Police Firearms Investigations Unit. An FPID is also mandatory for buying handgun ammunition from dealers within the state.