Buy a Gun in Ohio
In the state of Ohio, you can buy rifles, handguns, and shotguns from any gun dealership without being required to obtain a Permit to Purchase. Residents in the neighboring states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Michigan can also visit Ohio to buy a gun without a permit. To buy a handgun, you must be at least 21 years of age; however, you can buy a firearm if you are at least 18 years of age. Although you are not required to have a Permit to Purchase to buy a gun in Ohio, you must still meet certain lawful criteria.
Steps
- Verify that you meet the lawful criteria for buying a gun in Ohio.
- By law, you cannot buy a gun if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time you visit the gun dealership.
- You can buy a handgun or firearm if you are at least 21 years of age or 18 years of age respectively, are not a fugitive from justice, are not convicted of a felony or drug offense, are not dependent on drugs or alcohol, and if you are not mentally ill.
- Find a gun or firearms dealer in Ohio. In the state of Ohio, you can purchase guns from private sellers or firearms dealers with federal licenses. Handgun and firearms dealers can be found by performing an Internet search or by browsing your local Ohio phone directory.
- Go to an Internet search engine and type in keywords such as "Ohio gun dealers" or "Ohio firearms dealers" to locate gun stores in your area.
- If you do not have Internet access, refer to your local phone directory to find the addresses and contact information for Ohio gun dealers in your area.
- Visit the gun dealership to buy a gun.
- Bring a form of photograph identification that displays your name and age; such as your drivers license. The dealer will need to verify your age and identity when you buy the gun.
- If you visit a gun dealership that is federally licensed, you will be subject to a background check; however, if you buy a gun from a private seller or unlicensed dealership, the dealer is not required to perform a background check.
- If a background check is required, it will be performed with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) database to determine whether or not you meet the lawful criteria.
- Take your gun home on the day of purchase. In the state of Ohio, a mandatory waiting period does not exist that requires you to come back at a later date to retrieve your gun from the dealership.
Tips
- You can buy any number of guns at any one time in Ohio; as there is no state limitation on multiple gun purchases.
- The state of Ohio does not require you to register any handguns or firearms you purchase with any governing bureau, such as the police department.
Warnings
- You may also openly carry your firearm in the state of Ohio. You will need to visit your local sheriff's department (unarmed) and grab an open carry pamphlet which outlines the same laws as concealed carry.
- Although you are not required to obtain a "Permit to Purchase" to buy a gun in Ohio, you are still required to obtain a "Permit to Carry" if you want to carry the handgun with you at any time. To obtain a Permit to Carry, you must be at least 21 years of age and visit the Sheriff's Office in your county to complete an application.
This only applies to concealed carry.
